In 2026, Wreaths Across America’s theme is “Remember Me,” a message that resonates deeply with veteran and professional truck driver Nate McCarty. Whether serving his country in the U.S. Army National Guard or helping escort wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery, McCarty has dedicated his life to honoring others through service. With more than 3.5 million accident-free miles and 34 years in the trucking industry, he has become an important part of the mission to remember, honor, and teach.

This week on Trucking Tributes, host Elisabeth Barna welcomes McCarty, a professional truck driver with ABF Freight and a veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard. 

McCarty has been on the escort to Arlington four times. He said that if “you get out and do it one time, you’ll want to do it all the time.” From his perspective, volunteering is low-cost and requires little effort. He believes everyone should volunteer and that volunteering is a great opportunity to honor those who have served.

McCarty enlisted in the National Guard at 17. As the grandson of a World War II veteran, he was inspired to become a citizen-soldier and to attend college simultaneously. At 18, he was deployed during Desert Storm. His work as a teletype operator and communications for the military led him to hold great respect for fellow veterans.

“It is important to teach that next generation, because we all understand the sacrifices that were made. I think just about every one of us has friends and family that served,” McCarty said. “It’s such a neat way to honor their time and service.”

Tune in to Trucking Tributes on Wreaths Across America Radio’s Trucking Tuesday at 10 a.m. and again at 4 p.m. EST to hear more about McCarty’s involvement in the industry and his relation to the Wreaths Across America mission. You can also listen on demand on SoundCloud here.