Patriotism by the truckload
National Wreaths Across America Day will be a time of reflection, as people lay Christmas wreaths on military veterans’ graves across the country Dec. 12. Behind this act of service and honor are hundreds of truckers who will make the day possible.
Mark Cubine, the vice president of marketing for McLeod Software, said that Wreaths Across America has strong support from the trucking industry, including the Truckload Carriers Association and the American Trucking Associations.
McLeod, which is located on Acton Road, provides business software for national trucking and logistics companies. These clients first told them about the annual December project.
“We literally have hundreds of customers involved in this project,” Cubine said. “There’s a strong sense of patriotism in the trucking industry and a desire to honor the service members.”
The trucking industry’s support isn’t just financial. Every year, truck drivers volunteer to transport thousands of wreaths for free so local chapters can lay their wreaths. Marynell Winslow, who heads the Hoover chapter of Wreaths Across America, said their wreaths are made in Maine each year and transported to Birmingham by willing drivers.
Cubine said without this support, the transportation would be a “very big expense” for Wreaths Across America to shoulder. McLeod has been involved with Wreaths Across America for a few years. Cubine said the company promotes the project to its software customers and provides financial support for Winslow’s Hoover chapter. In addition, several of the company employees volunteer in the wreath-laying ceremony each year.
“As soon as we became aware of it, we got involved,” Cubine said. “This is a way we can show our appreciation for the service members.”
Employees often participate in the ceremony not only to recognize veterans who served their country, but also to teach their children about respecting that sacrifice.
“It’s very emotional for people,” Cubine said. “A lot of employees appreciate the opportunity to involve their families more.”
Winslow said her chapter plans to lay about 640 wreaths at the Jefferson Memorial Gardens in Hoover on Dec. 12, one for every veteran interred there. Capt. Robert Newsome is leading another participating group, which plans to lay wreaths at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo. He said the group is trying to raise enough money to place wreaths on nearly 4,000 graves, and they typically get a few thousand volunteers on the day of the ceremony.
The national website, wreathsacrossamerica.org, has more information about the project, as well as ways to get involved in the project in Hoover, Montevallo or any of the 15 other Alabama locations.