The Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit (MEE) is back on the road, bringing the mission to Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teach the next generation the value of freedom to communities across the country.

Meet our new professional drivers!

 

 

Patrice

I joined the United States Army in June 1989, just five days after graduating from high school. I began my military career as an 88M Motor Transport Operator (Truck Driver), a role I proudly served in for 18 years. My first eight years were spent stationed in Germany, followed by assignments in Georgia, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

As I approached retirement, I hoped to finish my Army career where it had begun, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. To make that possible, I transitioned into a new Military Occupational Specialty and became a 74D Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Specialist. I returned to Fort Jackson for my final six years of service and retired in 2014 after 24 years, 11 months, and 17 days of active-duty service.

During my military career, I deployed three times, serving two tours in Bosnia and one tour in Iraq.

After retiring from the Army, I began my civilian trucking career with Schneider in 2017. In 2018, I became a team driver and was honored as Schneider's Team Driver of the Year. In 2021, I transitioned into a driver instructor role, helping mentor and train the next generation of professional drivers.

In 2022, I became the first female driver to be awarded a Schneider Ride of Pride truck, a tremendous honor recognizing military service and commitment to excellence. That same year, I participated in my first Wreaths Across America Honor Fleet convoy and have proudly taken part every year since.

In 2026, I was honored to become a Driver Ambassador for the Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit. Today, I have the privilege of sharing the mission of Remember, Honor, and Teach while traveling across the country alongside my fellow driver, Deb Kellogg, a former Mobile Education Exhibit Ambassador and longtime colleague.

Throughout my military and trucking careers, service has remained at the heart of everything I do. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving veterans, their families, and communities across America through the mission of Wreaths Across America.

Debbie

 I began my trucking career in 1984, driving throughout the United States and Canada. Over the years, I have accumulated more than one million miles behind the wheel. When my children were born, I stepped away from over-the-road driving for a time and worked as a Dispatcher and Shipping Coordinator until they reached middle school.

Throughout my career, I have hauled nearly every type of freight except oversized loads and explosives. In 2018, my husband and I hauled our first load of wreaths for Wreaths Across America and also became Location Coordinators that same year.

After my husband's heart attack in 2019, I continued hauling the wreath load through 2020. In 2021, I became a Driver Ambassador for the Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit, serving in that role until 2022 before returning to over-the-road trucking.

During that time, my husband and I also co-founded a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the rescue of non-native and captive-bred reptiles. The organization was inspired by his journey and battles with mental health following his heart attack in 2019.

Today, I am proud to be back with the Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit alongside my friend, longtime professional truck driver, and retired Army Veteran, Patrice Cook. Whether on the road, serving veterans and their families, or supporting our nonprofit mission, I strive to live the Wreaths Across America mission every day: Remember, Honor, and Teach.

 

Click here to learn more about the MEE.