Wreaths Across America's Trucking Tributes Presents Crowley


The Wreaths Across America mission to remember, honor, and teach is impossible without the transportation industry. Veterans’ wreaths move by planes, trains, and livestock trailers, but trucks and their professional drivers transport the lion’s share of America’s respect. Many of these drivers are veterans and say the truckload of fresh, balsam-fir wreaths is the most precious cargo they transport in their careers. Wreaths Across America highlights their steadfast commitment in the “Trucking Tributes” feature online and on Wreaths Across America Radio.

Professional drivers and trucking companies give so much to the nation. In December, arguably the busiest time of the year for the transportation sector, the Wreaths Across America mission brings them together in an effort of unparalleled unity. Combined with a “can-do” work ethic, that unity makes it possible for Americans to honor millions of veterans laid to rest here at home and overseas. With over 3,100 participating locations and Arlington National Cemetery, transportation logistics are immense.

We believe if Wreaths Across America were placing wreaths and saying their names when Crowley was founded back in 1892, Tom Crowley would have put them in his rowboat to deliver to mariners. We believe this because today, the third generation of Crowley’s is at the helm of the family-owned transportation logistics company based in Jacksonville, Florida.

Vice President of Crowley’s Government Solutions unit, Patrick Wallace, explains the relationship between Wreaths Across America and Crowley is one of happenstance. “One day, our product manager with Crowley, Jerome was at a trucking trade show and came across the Wreaths Across America booth and asked how we could help,” Patrick shares. “Ironically enough, it was getting wreaths to Puerto Rico. With the Crowley family history, our support of Puerto Rico, and being a Jones Act-carrier, it was the perfect synergy between our support of the armed forces and our support and pride in our relationship with Puerto Rico. When we first got involved, we really didn’t know what to expect, but with so many employees who are veterans in Puerto Rico, it just made sense to get involved with the Puerto Rico National Cemetery.”

Patrick joined Crowley to help support its transition from a maritime-only company to one that handling both land and sea transportation logistics. Their Defense Freight Transportation Services Contract supports the Department of Defense. In doing so, Crowley transports to all the military bases in the U.S. Subsequently, the U.S. military, veterans, and the Wreaths Across America effort are “near and dear” to their hearts. Patrick explains there’s a strong company culture of support for veterans at Crowley that goes beyond the relationship with Wreaths Across America. “Crowley operates on three basic values which are sustainability, high performance, and integrity. When I think of some of these core values veterans come to mind. Our customers and our team members who are veterans have some of the underlying characteristics that we look at and say they’re some of the best representations of our country, and that’s the kind of responsibility and integrity we want representing our team.”

In what Patrick refers to as “a coordination of chaos,” the Crowley logistics chain with the veterans’ wreaths involves trucks, containers, and an LNG vessel. “One of our partners goes up to Maine and brings the wreaths down to Jacksonville. They’re put into the warehouse, and one container supports the laying of wreaths in Jacksonville. We have another container that’s taken to the port and placed on the vessel for the three-day trip to Puerto Rico. I believe they get an escort to the cemetery, and a bunch of Crowley employees will participate in the wreath-laying activities.”

Patrick says the entire Crowley organization is honored to play a part in the Wreaths Across America mission. “The cost of getting those wreaths to the cemetery was the barrier to getting more wreaths down there. Crowley Cares, the charitable piece of the corporation, has matched all the donations that have been made, and all the transportation has been donated, so we removed that barrier. It goes beyond the fact that you’re delivering a wreath to be laid on a servicemember’s grave. You’re delivering so much more when you think of the families that will see that wreath, potentially for the first time, laid on their loved one’s grave. The opportunity to deliver that level of heart-felt thanks is why we do what we do.”

Thank you, Patrick, and the entire Crowley team for helping us live up to their legacy. You can hear Patrick’s full interview on Trucking Tributes heard exclusively on Wreaths Radio every Trucking Tuesday at 11:00 AM and again at 4:00 PM eastern.