SYLACAUGA, Ala. – Each year more than 1,500 truck loads of wreaths are shipped throughput the United States to be placed on graves at national cemeteries through the non-profit organization Wreaths Across America. This holiday season, J&M Tank Lines has gone the extra mile and donated its trucking services to deliver over 1,00o of these wreaths.
In 1992, Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company, began honoring fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery by placing wreaths on the stones after his company had a surplus of wreaths that year. This became an annual tribute until a photo of the stones at Arlington went viral in 2005.
Since 2005, the tradition has expanded to 1,400 locations nationwide bringing the need for mass transportation and J&M Tank Lines.
2018 marks the first year J&M has partnered with Wreaths Across America by donating its transportation services to help honor heroes across the nation. On Sunday, the company sent a crew to Richland, Mississippi to pick up over 1,000 wreaths. The wreaths were shipped back to the company’s home base in Birmingham where 500 employees celebrated the trucks arrival.
Shortly after, the truck departed for Florida to deliver to nine cemeteries.
J&M Tank Lines not only chose to donate its time, equipment and services to the cause, but also fully decorated the truck for the cause. View the pictures below.
[su_slider source=”media: 40741,40742,40743,40744″ limit=”15″ width=”1600″ height=”1260″ title=”no” pages=”no” mousewheel=”no” autoplay=”3500″ speed=”500″]“We’ve known about this cause for many years, and we’re excited to have the resources this year to volunteer,” said Andrew Petrofsky. Petrofsky is the Special Projects Manager for J&M Tank Lines.
Petrofsky was initially skeptical about pitching the idea to sponsor Wreaths Across America. Petrofsky, whose grandfather is a veteran, felt a calling to join forces with Wreaths Across America and, during the holiday season, honor those who have fallen.
“J&M has veterans and active duty personnel that are our employees, so this is a way for us to honor them and past heroes,” said Petrofsky. “This is a way for us to honor our veterans and employees who have given up so much to serve, and remember those who have passed away. It’s an honor for us to be a part of this.”
J&M will has a short window of five days to deliver the wreaths, provided through the generous support of private donations, to the nine cemeteries before National Wreaths Across America Day, scheduled for Dec. 15.
