Trucking Delivers Record Number of Wreaths to Honor Fallen Military Veterans Nationwide
This story appears in the Dec. 23 & 30 print edition of Transport Topics.
Truck drivers helped honor veterans by taking part in an annual tradition of laying Christmas wreaths at the headstones of U.S. service members at Arlington National Cemetery.
More than 143,000 wreaths were placed Dec. 14 by 30,000 volunteers working with Wreaths Across America, the organization said in a news release.
The figure represents the largest number of wreaths the group has delivered since the event began 22 years ago, according to Wreaths Across America. In all, volunteers laid 540,000 wreaths at 908 veterans’ cemeteries across the United States this year.
More than 100 fleets, as well as American Trucking Associations, helped deliver the wreaths. ATA’s “Share the Road” truck hauled handmade wreaths as part of a convoy of more than 30 vehicles from Harrington, Maine, where Wreaths Across America is based, to Arlington.
“It is truly an honor to be part of the Wreaths Across America convoy to Arlington Cemetery,” Eddie Hosegood, a professional driver with Publix Supermarkets, said in a news release. “The number of professional truck drivers, trucking companies and volunteers who joined together to honor our fallen soldiers is touching. This is a very rewarding way to start the holiday season.”
Volunteers laid the wreaths at the cemetery, and Patriot Guard Riders placed a wreath at the grave of former President John F. Kennedy.
For the first time this year, the group distributed wreaths to truckers to put on the front of their vehicles in addition to wreaths for cemeteries.
Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath and founder of Wreaths Across America, said the idea to expand the program came from seeing volunteer drivers who participated in the annual escort to Arlington remove wreaths from their rigs and place them on headstones after arriving at the cemetery, which is on the Virginia side of the Potomac River, across from Washington, D.C.
The Arlington National Cemetery event this year included Worcester; Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) and first lady Ann LePage; Karen Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America; and Patrick Hallinan, executive director of Arlington National Cemetery, Wreaths Across America said.
“There is comfort in knowing that everyone here has been touched and inspired by those we came to honor,” said Karen Worcester. “Every day of our lives, in simple everyday joys, we see proof that their sacrifice was not in vain, and we are grateful.”
For the first time this year, the organization stopped at the Statue of Liberty for the placement of a special Freedom Wreath.
