Wreaths Across America receives no government funding to support operations. Motivated and dedicated patriots across the country and at locations overseas power the Maine-based nonprofit organization. The mission to remember, honor, and teach is carried out daily by millions of citizens who care deeply for those who have served our nation in the armed forces, and their families. Some of these remarkable individuals are veterans themselves or come from military families while others are driven by a deep sense of patriotism and community service.
Placing fresh, hand-made balsam remembrance wreaths on the headstones of veterans across the country in December requires tremendous logistics and unyielding support from the trucking industry.
Wreaths Across America shows its gratitude and appreciation for all those involved in transporting America's respect with "Trucking Tributes." These stories will introduce you to the men and women of the industry who make the mission possible.
No one could have ever convinced Wreaths Across America’s founder Morrill Worcester that his thoughtful gesture back in 1992 of donating one truckload of five-thousand wreaths to be placed on the headstones of our fallen over the holidays in Arlington National Cemetery would become a unifying symbol of honor and respect for our nation’s military.
Today with over 1,200 participating locations in addition to Arlington, over two hundred trucking companies and their industry associations are responsible for hauling hundreds of loads of hand-made balsam fir remembrance wreaths out of Washington County, Maine to points throughout the nation.
One of those participating cemeteries is the Fayetteville National Cemetery in Arkansas, and J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. supports that effort.
Stan Hampton, Vice President of Driver Personnel for J.B. Hunt, says he and his boss, Senior VP of Safety and Driver Personnel Greer Woodruff, were invited to a TCA Fundraising Gala for Wreaths Across America three or four years ago.
“We had done a little research and had heard of Wreaths Across America before we went to D.C.,” Stan recalls. “We didn’t understand the scope of the effort though until we attended the event. The energy and enthusiasm for WAA was mind-blowing and we left with great contacts and started to formulate a proposal right away for the executive team to consider getting involved with the mission.”
Stan says from the very beginning there was a great deal of employee engagement at J.B. Hunt.
“That first year we hauled one load from Maine to Arkansas using drivers who were veterans on each leg of the journey,” Stan explains. “We had seven stops in between and had key exchange ceremonies at service centers. As we went along, we collected and shared their stories, and by the time we reached the corporate office, we had quite a following. There was a ceremony in our employee circle with cheers and American flags.”
Stan says several hundred J.B. Hunt employees participate in wreath-laying ceremonies at the cemetery as well.
“The ground swell and emotion of our employees just validated what we had seen in D.C., and we knew it was going to be a cultural thing for J.B. Hunt. “
Since J.B. Hunt’s first year of involvement, they have increased their support from one to eight truckloads of wreaths and have partnered with Walmart to honor the fallen in Arkansas
“We’ve always been strong in veteran recruiting and honoring our veterans. We don’t have any veterans at the executive level at J.B. Hunt, but the involvement from the top down has been strong. The trucking industry is the backbone of America. Things do not just appear on the shelves without transportation and logistics. Being able to do what we do in this country is only delivered through the sacrifice our service members, veterans, and their families make.”
Stan has not served in the military but his brother Darrell has, and he’s also proud of his Grandfather Toy Sams Sands who served in the Navy for twenty years before settling into a trucking career.
Stan says J.B. Hunt looks forward to its continued support of the Wreaths Across America mission and he’ll always be a huge fan working to encourage other volunteers to step up to be sure no hometown hero is ever forgotten.
“Whether it's donating a wreath somewhere and covering the cost for that, or getting involved in laying wreaths at your local cemetery, or driving that load you may never know whose life your impacting by that compassionate gesture during Wreaths Across America Day,” Stan explains of the healing nature of the remembrance wreath laid in honor during the holidays. “When you take the time to get to know and support the Gold Star and Blue Star families in your workplace and community you begin to understand the level of their sacrifice. Once you understand that sacrifice, you understand Wreaths Across America and the mission to remember, honor and teach.”
Thank you, Stan and J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. for your patriotism and tireless support of Wreaths Across America. You can hear more from Stan in our "Trucking Tributes" on Wreaths Across America Radio weekdays at 11:00 AM and again at 4:00 PM Eastern.
