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Elkins High School graduate part of elite funeral escort for former President Jimmy Carter

navy photograph rudolph anderson
Fort Bend ISD (January 14, 2025) – Elkins High School graduate Rudolph “Rudy” Anderson, III helped provide a funeral escort for former United States President Jimmy Carter as a member of the elite U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard.

Only one member from each branch of the service was selected as a casket bearer. Anderson was selected to represent the U.S. Navy.

Anderson completed an intensive 10-week training program last year to become a U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guardsman.
 
Sailors are hand selected while they are attending boot camp. They are experts in the art of close order drill, coordination and timing.

According to the Navy’s website, the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard is the official honor guard of the U.S. Navy and is based in Washington, D.C.

Their primary mission is to represent the naval branch of service in Presidential, Joint Armed Forces, Navy and public ceremonies in and around the nation’s capital.
 
The Navy’s Ceremonial Guard is comprised of the drill team, color guard, casket bearers and firing party.

Anderson attended Austin Parkway Elementary and First Colony Middle School before graduating from Elkins High School in 2018 where he played football and baseball.

He continued playing football at the collegiate level for Blinn Junior College, North Texas University and Texas Southern University. He joined the U.S. Navy.

Rudolph Anderson carrying Jimmy Carter's casket