In November and December, one of the busiest periods of the year for the transportation sector, the Wreaths Across America mission brings drivers together in an effort of unparalleled unity. With a positive, “can-do” work ethic, these professionals make it possible for Americans to honor millions of veterans laid to rest at home and overseas. In 2024, with over 4,909 participating locations, in addition to Arlington National Cemetery, transportation logistics were immense.

Many of these drivers are military veterans and say the truckload of fresh balsam-fir wreaths is the most precious cargo they transport in their careers. Wreaths Across America shares their stories in the “Trucking Tributes” feature online and on Wreaths Across America Radio.

It’s time once again for the third annual Truckloads of Remembrance Virtual Convoy and trucking consultant Elisabeth Barna heads this fantastic opportunity for people to support the mission, helping the wreath count at Arlington National Cemetery in 2025, and veteran cemeteries across the country.

Elisabeth runs EAB Strategies, LLC, based out of Arlington, Virginia, and has been a consultant and friend to Wreaths Across America since its beginning as an organization. EAB Strategies provides communications and marketing expertise to transportation and logistics companies, as well as program development for companies seeking to grow their brand and image.

Elisabeth got started in the trucking industry shortly after college. “I answered an ad by the American Trucking Association, and I thought I’d stay there for a year before moving to a different city,” she shared. “Here I am, almost thirty-five years later, still in the industry. I think once you get in, you don’t get out, and for me, it’s about the people in the business. We’re like one big happy family. I love logistics in general, but once you meet the people who work at the companies, the owners, drivers, or technicians, everyone is so authentic, and each of them is doing something for America. Without them, we wouldn’t have food on our tables or clothes on our backs. I think after the pandemic, the country really got to see what trucking is all about, and they have a better appreciation for the industry, especially the professional driver.”

Even before Wreaths Across America became an official 501c3 organization in 2007, Elisabeth was introduced to its founder, Morrill Worcester through a Maine trucking professional, Barry Pottle, who was helping to bring the first loads of veterans’ wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery. “I live just an exit up from Arlington National Cemetery, so I went to help place the wreaths and help with clean up. I loved every minute of it, what the mission stands for, and the people who are a part of it. Each year it continues to grow, which is even more exciting.”

As exciting as the growth and development of the Wreaths Across America mission are, Elisabeth recognizes the challenges involved in the transportation logistics of getting over three million hand-made, fresh, balsam fir veterans’ wreaths to Arlington and well over 4,900 other participating locations from Maine to Hawaii or Puerto Rico to Guam.

As the mission expanded to other locations where American veterans are laid to rest or memorialized, the transportation sector of Wreaths Across America created the Truckloads of Remembrance Virtual Convoy two years ago. “I started working with the state trucking associations. We thought it would be a great idea to get them involved in either helping us sponsor veterans’ wreaths or finding new motor carriers to get involved in helping us transport those wreaths. Last year, we had thirty-eight states participate, and I’m hoping additional state trucking associations get involved this year. We also included national transportation associations, not just trucking associations. This year we’re adding a new one, which is very exciting.”

Wreaths Across America welcomes and appreciates the involvement in 2025 of the NATSO Foundation in the Truckloads of Remembrance Virtual Convoy. The NATSO Foundation will be working to fill (virtually) one trailer load of sponsored veterans’ wreaths to be delivered and placed by volunteers at Arlington National Cemetery this December. This is approximately 4,500 wreaths, which will be laid on the final resting place of servicemembers as part of National Wreaths Across America Day. Through the program, with each $17 veteran’s wreath sponsored through the NATSO Foundation’s group, a wreath will be placed on the headstone of an American servicemember, the year-round mission of WAA is supported, AND the Foundation will receive $5 back! These funds earned will be used to support the Bill and Carolyn Moon Scholarship program, which presents two $5,000 scholarships to deserving students with ties to the truck stop and travel center industry to put towards higher education.

Each participating association receives a link and QR code to their wreath sponsorship page, and they join as part of the $5.00 back sponsorship program. “Many of those associations returned that money to sponsor even more wreaths. Some of them used it to do something for their own special veterans’ programs,” Elisabeth explained.

Wreaths Across America also recognized winning associations with awards. “One of the awards is the Champion Award for the association that secured the most wreath sponsorships, and for the second year in a row, that award went to the Indiana Motor Truck Association for 2024.” Not all the state associations, however, are of the same size or scope, so other awards are also given. “The Squad Award is for the association with three or fewer staff members working, and that’s the Virginia Trucking Association for 2024. The Innovation Award is for the group that has the most creative ways of securing wreath sponsorships, and that goes to the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association. We also divide the associations up by region, and in 2023, region two was a winner, but for 2024, region one came in as the regional winner, which was really exciting because those are usually the smaller associations on the east coast.”

If you’d like to get involved with the Truckloads of Remembrance Virtual convoy, you can contact Elisabeth at Elisabeth.Barna@outlook.com.

Thank you, Elisabeth, and the NATSO Foundation for your commitment to our veterans through the mission to remember, honor, and teach.

If you’d like to join the Wreaths Across America Honor Fleet, you can get started with a click right here!

You can hear more with Elisabeth on Trucking Tributes, which can be listened to every Truckin’ Tuesday at 11:00 AM and again at 4:00 PM EST on Wreaths Across America Radio and Wednesday at 8:30 AM EST as part of RadioNemo on Sirius XM Channel 146, Road Dog Trucking.”

Discover the Trucking Tributes archive playlist on Soundcloud.com