Dozens of truckloads, thousands of volunteers and hundreds of thousands of wreaths made their way to Arlington National Cemetery Saturday, Dec. 14, for Wreaths Across America’s annual wreath laying ceremony that honors the country’s fallen heroes.
Trucking companies — and the industry at large — must organize each year to make it happen. This year, 41 tractor-trailers made the trip to Arlington carrying 143,000 wreaths, and after an opening ceremony in which Wreaths Across America founder Karen Worcester spoke about the foundation’s beginnings and its “remember, honor and teach” mission.
Related: Truckloads of respect: Trucking industry gives back to veterans who gave their all
Prime Inc., Schneider National, Baylor Trucking, Hartt Transportation, Pottle’s Transportation and several other trucking companies showed up to the event toting loads of wreaths for volunteers to place on the headstones of fallen veterans.
Below is photo gallery from the scenes at Arlington this weekend. CCJ sister site Ovedrive has a full story from the annual wreath laying ceremony. CCJ also published an in-depth story in November on the origins of Wreaths Across America and how it grew to where it is today — Click here to read it.
Photos below are by Brad Bentley, unless noted otherwise.
A Pottle’s Transportation truck pulls into Arlington National Cemetery.
A section of Arlington National Cemetery is adorned with remembrance wreaths that were delivered by Hartt Transportation Systems, Inc.
Volunteers ranged from uniformed service members and gray-haired veterans to the young girl pictured here. Teaching our children the value of freedom is a core part of Wreaths Across America’s mission.
Baylor Trucking, Inc. President, Robert Baylor stands by the trailer which was used to deliver to several military cemeteries. This is the sixth straight year Indiana’s Baylor Trucking has partnered with Wreaths Across America.
Volunteers place wreaths that were delivered by Bay & Bay Transportation, who decorated their trailer to honor the United States Marine Corps.
Volunteers gather for the opening ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. The American Trucking Associations’ Share the Road Truck can be seen in the background. This was one of several trucks who participated in a special convoy from Maine to Arlington, stopping at schools, monuments, veterans’ homes and communities along the way.
This Schneider National truck was among those in a convoy bearing tens of thousands of wreaths as they arrived at Arlington National Cemetery.
Volunteers ranged from uniformed service members and gray-haired veterans to the young girl pictured here. Photo by Carolyn Magner.
