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 2023, with over 3,700 participating locations, in addition to Arlington National Cemetery, transportation logistics are 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 of what motivates them to serve and succeed in the “Trucking Tributes” featured online and on Wreaths Across America Radio.

This year, during the Mid-America Trucking Show in Kentucky, Wreaths Across America’s Director of Transportation, Courtney George, honored a professional truck driver and his company for ten years of service to the mission to remember, honor, and teach. It was a significant contribution milestone for Ralph Lee Butler, Jr. and Freymiller Logistics and Transportation out of Oklahoma City. “We don’t have that many drivers who have been with us for ten years in a row, but we’re getting there,” Courtney explained. “To have Freymiller be so supportive of him to come to the truck show with some friends and family to receive this award shows us what a wonderful company Freymiller is in the trucking industry.”

Ralph, known as “Rowdy” to most, is a U.S. Air Force and Army veteran and passionate volunteer who serves and succeeds on behalf of his “brothers and sisters” laid to rest throughout the country. “The goal here is to honor all of our veterans to be sure they’re not forgotten,” Rowdy shared of his first year making multiple stops hauling veterans' wreaths ten years ago. “There was one thing that each of my stops had in common, and that was that they were short on coverage for every veteran’s headstone, and that hurt. I thought to myself, what can I do?” That was his initial reaction when introduced to the mission, and his dedication and commitment to honoring the fallen have grown every year since. Rowdy says he’s deeply honored to haul America’s respect for Freymiller, but that wasn’t enough. He was driven to do more.

Rowdy started a sponsorship group called Roll to Wreaths Riders 4 Vets to raise awareness and funds to sponsor wreaths for Macomb, Oklahoma, area cemeteries. Then he became a location coordinator to make it happen. “I’ve got guys in my group now that are saying, ‘Hey, Rowdy, we’ve got family members buried up here or there.’ I tell them that we need to find out if those cemeteries are participating, and if they’re not, we need to register them with Wreaths Across America.” He’s right, and that’s just the way Wreaths Across America has grown to over 3,700 participating locations in addition to Arlington National Cemetery. With permission from the cemetery, anyone can start a Wreaths Across America wreath-laying ceremony.

You only need to spend a few minutes with Rowdy to feel his passion for the country, trucking, veterans, and the mission to ensure no one is forgotten in December. He often expresses himself by writing and sharing powerful sentiments in poems like The Silence of a Fallen Tear and A Veteran’s Urn

Thank you, Rowdy and Freymiller, for helping us serve and succeed. You can hear more from Rowdy on Trucking Tributes, listened to every Truckin’ Tuesday at 11:00 AM and again at 4:00 PM (eastern) on Wreaths Across America Radio.