DALLAS — In a check presentation made Thursday at the Great American Trucking Show here, national nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) accepted a contribution of $50,000 from the National Association of Independent Truckers (NAIT) and NAIT’s insurance partners TransGuard, and IAT Insurance Group.
The contribution from NAIT and its partners is their third annual donation and will help WAA to honor 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 honored to be able to make a Wreaths run to El Paso, Texas, each year,” said Kevin Ericson, an owner-operator with Knudsen Trucking of Hager City, Wisconsin. “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 honor 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, NAIT’s insurance partners TransGuard and IAT Insurance Group, will play a vital role in this year’s December 15, 2018, 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 honoring 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, Honor 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.”
Independent truckers interested in hauling a load of veterans’ wreaths this volunteer. To learn more visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/trucking.
PHOTO CAPTION
Debbie Sparks, second from right, director of transportation and community outreach for Wreaths Across America, accepts a check for $50,000 from David King, vice president, business development for the National Association of Independent Truckers. Looking on are Mona Brimeyer and Corrina Noyes, both with WAA partner TransGuard/IAT Insurance Group.
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