Wreaths Across America happily accepted a donation of $50,000 from the National Association of Independent Truckers and NAIT’s insurance partners TransGuard, and IAT Insurance Group.
In a presentation made yesterday at the Great American Truck Show in Dallas, a check for $50,000 was presented for the third year in a row to the organization. The sizeable contribution will help WAA to honour fallen military service members across the United States with wreath-laying ceremonies this December at Arlington National Cemetery and more than 1,400 other participating locations as part of its National Wreaths Across America Day.
As in prior years, the contribution will be used to offset fuel costs for independent truckers wanting to help deliver the live balsam wreaths from Maine to one of WAA’s nearly 1,500 participating cemeteries.
“My wife and I have been honoured to be able to make a Wreaths run to El Paso, TX, each year,” said Kevin Ericson, an Owner-Operator with Knudsen Trucking of Hager City, Wis. “The fuel assistance donation helps us realize that chance by easing the financial difficulty in donating our time, by way of aiding us in mitigating the cost incurred with the fuel expense to complete the trip. Without it we would still be able to make the donation, but it would be harder to absorb the cost, we can’t begin to describe how much we appreciate what they do in helping us honour our fallen with Wreaths Across America, keep up the good work, and thanks again from all of us!”
Joining together with other members of the trucking industry, NAIT, TransGuard, and IAT Insurance Group will play a vital role in this year’s December 15 National Wreaths Across America Day tribute, with hundreds of companies and professional drivers donating their time, trucks and fuel to transport nearly two million veteran wreaths across the country.
“All of us at NAIT, and our partners, are proud to participate in honouring the men and women who valiantly served our country,” said David King, Vice President, Business Development for NAIT. “This contribution, like the ones we have made over the last several years, will help to provide an opportunity for professional drivers to transport wreaths across the United States. Many employees of NAIT and our partners will also be placing wreaths on the graves of veterans in cemeteries across the United States.”
“The generosity of NAIT and NAIT’s insurance partners TransGuard and IAT Insurance Group will allow owner/operator that may not have the means to otherwise participate, join in on the mission to Remember, honour and Teach,” said Debbie Sparks, director of transportation and community outreach for Wreaths Across America. “Our reliance on independent truck owners/operators cannot be understated when talking about the success of National Wreaths Across America Day. We are thankful for their generosity.”
