The trucking industry helps honor the nation’s fallen heroes.
Tomorrow, Dec. 10, is Wreaths Across America Day, and the trucking industry is an integral part of this annual event. This week, 46 trucking companies hauled 80 truckloads of fresh wreaths (about 325,000) to be laid on graves at more than 700 veterans’ cemeteries across the nation.
Wreaths Across America coordinates wreath laying ceremonies on the second Saturday of December at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.
Ceremonies around the nation will be performed in unison at 12 p.m. EST tomorrow. Each ceremony will include a flag ceremony, the traditional taps and a 21-gun salute. One member from each branch of the military will place a wreath on a grave.
The group also organizes a week of events including international veteran’s tributes, ceremonies at State Houses and a week-long “Veteran’s Parade” between Maine and Virginia, which stops along the way to spread our message about the importance of remembering our fallen heroes, honoring those who serve, and teaching our children about the sacrifices made by veterans and their families to preserve our freedoms.
The cost of these programs is paid by individual wreaths sponsors, corporate donors and volunteer truckers.
Trucking companies such as AAA Cooper, Baylor Trucking, Con-way Truckload, Covenant Transport, Dart Transit, FFE, FIkes Truck Line, Perdue Dairy, Prime Inc., Ryder, Schneider, Swift, UPS, U.S. Xpress and others. Here’s a really nice video from Prime showcasing last year’s event:
Barry Pottle of Maine-based Pottle’s Transportation has been a major force in getting the trucking industry involved in the effort. Last year, Wreaths Across America presented Pottle with its Founders Award.
“In organizing the transportation and logistics for the wreath deliveries, I was touched with how many trucking companies and professional drivers volunteered to assist in this remembrance,” Pottles said. “We have trucks delivering wreaths all across the country – it really demonstrates just how big-hearted the trucking industry is.”
The American Trucking Associations, the Truckload Carriers Association and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association are also involved. TCA has a wonderful TV ad highlighting the industry’s involvement:
Wreaths Across America is a non-profit formed as an extension of the Arlington Wreath Project. That project was started by Morrill Worcester of wreath producer Worcester Wreath in 1992 with the donation and laying of 5,000 Christmas wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery.
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