Professional drivers and trucking companies give so much to the nation. Without them, the Wreaths Across America mission to remember, honor, and teach would be nearly impossible. Veterans’ wreaths move by planes, trains, ships, and livestock trailers, but trucks and their professional drivers transport the lion’s share of America's respect. In 2023, to be specific, 717 truckloads of wreaths were delivered, representing 332 different carriers and partners.
In November and December, one of the busiest periods of the year for the transportation sector, the Wreaths Across America mission brings drivers together in an effort of unparalleled unity. With a positive, “can-do” work ethic, these professionals make it possible for Americans to honor millions of veterans laid to rest at home and overseas. In 2024, with over 4,900 participating locations, in addition to Arlington National Cemetery, transportation logistics are immense.
Many of these drivers are military veterans and say the truckload of fresh balsam-fir wreaths is the most precious cargo they transport in their careers. Wreaths Across America shares their stories in the “Trucking Tributes” feature online and on Wreaths Across America Radio.
As we know, trucking is one of those industries where knowledge and skills are passed from one generation to the next. It’s been said, “diesel runs in the blood.” That would be the case for professional driver and industry leader Nate Lewis. Nate Lewis works for the transportation division of Tyson Foods and serves on the Board of Directors of Wreaths Across America. Nate’s grandfather drove most of his life, and his dad was a truck driver too who passed his experiences on to him with an emphasis on safety. Nate followed in his dad’s footsteps and now knows the personal worry of having his son on the road driving a big rig too. “I’m very passionate about the industry,” Nate shared of his almost thirty years as a professional driver and in management. “I’m pretty proud of my boy too. He drives for a company up in Maine and hauls flatbed and oversized loads and he hauls every day to Boston out of Maine. I trust him and he does a fabulous job but it’s a new kind of worry. It’s a family legacy though for me.”
Driving a truck also opened the opportunity for Nate to participate in the Wreaths Across America mission and that gives him great satisfaction. “I was appreciative to have the introduction to Wreaths Across America through my previous employer, Walmart, as they are a big carrier supporting the mission too. That really kicked off my relationship with Wreaths. I never served myself, but my great-grandfather did, and my grandfather served in World War II. My family’s very passionate about it and we’ve always raised our kids to recognize men and women in uniform. Getting to do this with Wreaths really stuck with my personal values.”
The support provided by Nate and the entire Tyson Foods team is extraordinary from feeding veterans and volunteers to hauling America’s respect, many of the Tyson Foods professional drivers and support personnel are pulling double duty from just after Thanksgiving through National Wreaths Across America Day, Saturday, December 14, 2024. Nate explained the preparation work begins in July when members of the Tyson team attend the annual Wreaths Across America Stem to Stone celebration. They’ll go over to the driver’s lounge and complete a kitchen inspection to determine the supplies and tools they’ll need for their operations in November and December.
At the driver’s check-in lounge, the Tyson Foods Cook Team provides breakfast, lunch and dinner for hundreds of professional truck drivers arriving in Maine to pick up their load of fresh balsam fir veterans’ wreaths. Meals are provided for volunteers, veterans, and Gold Star families arriving for the start of the Annual Wreath Escort to Arlington National Cemetery. The menu items provided by the team at the driver’s lounge produce that extra-special feeling of love and home for all involved with Wreaths Across America. They take “comfort food” to a whole new level. They also prepare and serve a hearty and scrumptious buffet for the Saturday night driver’s recognition dinner and send off.
But wait, there’s more! Some members of the Tyson Cook Team shed their aprons and hop into their tractors to haul veterans’ wreaths to awaiting volunteers on the ground at participating wreath-laying locations across the nation. “From a corporate standpoint, we support our local cemetery here in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It’s an honor to get to do that with a couple of the other large carriers, J.B. Hunt and Walmart. From a load standpoint, we haul about 25 loads which equates to about 160,000 wreaths. Not only does it mean a lot to our company, it means a lot to our drivers. This year we’re going to try to do some more relays to get more drivers involved.”
Thank you, Nate and the entire Tyson team for all you do to support the mission to remember, honor and teach.
If you’d like to join the Wreaths Across America Honor Fleet, you can get started with a click right here!
You can hear more with Nate on Trucking Tributes, which can be listened to every Truckin’ Tuesday at 11:00 AM and again at 4:00 PM EST on Wreaths Across America Radio and Wednesday at 8:30 AM EST as part of RadioNemo on Sirius XM Channel 146, Road Dog Trucking.”
Sponsor a wreath at the RadioNemo Wreaths Across America Page.
Discover the Trucking Tributes archive playlist on Soundcloud.com