Few industries honor veterans quite like trucking, and few organizations remember the fallen like Wreaths Across America.
Founder of the nationally recognized Wreaths Across America Day, this organization develops countless activities and resources to honor veterans who have passed. Trucking is an essential part of that work.
“The trucking industry is the most impactful industry for what we do,” Courtney George, director of transportation and industry relations for WAA, told FleetOwner. “They wholeheartedly make a huge difference. We couldn’t do what we do—we couldn’t remember so many very deserving souls—if it wasn’t for the trucking industry.”
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Wreaths Across America Day
Many wreaths go to Arlington National Cemetery, the largest cemetery in the U.S. National Cemetery System, in WAA’s Escort to Arlington.
“About 14 lucky trucks spend a week going down to Arlington National Cemetery,” George explained. “They stop at different schools, companies, or veteran service organizations that request us to stop along the way.”
WAA’s 2024 Escort to Arlington schedule includes stops at schools, colleges, churches, monuments, and more.
Truckloads of Remembrance
Truckloads of Remembrance is one of the ways that state trucking associations participate in sponsoring wreaths. Through this program, WAA hosts a virtual convoy for Arlington National Cemetery. Association sponsorships fill a virtual tractor-trailer load of veterans’ wreaths.
WAA’s goal is to raise a trailer load—approximately 5,000 wreaths—from each state to honor servicemembers laid to rest at Arlington.
TEACH program
The organization’s TEACH Program offers free, downloadable lesson plans for youth of all ages to learn the history and value of American military service. WAA’s Cindy Tatum—a retired teacher and previous president of American Gold Star Mothers Inc.—developed the curriculum.
“We’ve had over 25,000 downloads thus far this year,” George said.
Stem to Stone
The Stem to Stone race is a community and fundraising event held in Maine each July.
Every registration for the race sponsors a wreath, and the race itself brings together communities and WAA supporters.
“There’s a huge level of patriotism that happens during Stem to Stone,” George said. “It’s great because it brings people from all facets of what we do—whether it’s educators, whether it’s trucking companies.”
Trucking is special to WAA
The trucking community is an essential part of Wreaths Across America’s work.
“What I love about the trucking industry is how often they come together; how they all work together and make it their mission to help, whether it’s in their own community or in Arlington National Cemetery.”
WAA’s Honor Fleet transports millions of wreaths in December. Over 300 carriers were part of the 2023 Honor Fleet. Countless other trucking industry groups support WAA in its work to honor and remember veterans.
Remember, honor, teach—all year long
From laying flags on Memorial Day to many other events, WAA is always planning its next move to honor veterans.
During this Veterans Day, George is representing WAA at the Women in Trucking conference.
“If there’s anything veteran related, we will all be out doing service,” George said.
