Wreaths Across America: Mohawk honors veterans
In the midst of the holiday rush, two special Mohawk trucks and driver teams are also on the road to keep a nation-wide tradition of honoring veterans going.
Mohawk drivers are among hundreds from across the country that are collectively delivering wreaths to decorate veterans’ graves for the holiday season at approximately 2,500 cemeteries across the United States and abroad.
This year, Mohawk drivers transported two truckloads of wreaths from Wreaths Across America’s headquarters in Columbia Falls, Maine, to cemeteries in Texas and Tennessee for National Wreaths Across America Day taking place on Saturday, Dec. 18.
One in five Mohawk truck drivers is a veteran, and the company is proud of their service and the contributions they make to the business every single day.
Mohawk over-the-road drivers Lester Moore and Jamie Calvert teamed up to pick up one load of wreaths in Maine, and Local Driver Bobby Winters will complete the transportion of approximately 5,000 wreaths to Knoxville, Tn. area national cemetaries.
OTR team drivers Ron and Leah Eppich picked up the second load and transported it to the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetary. The Eppichs are a Gold-Star family, a designation for those who have lost a family member in service to their country. The Eppichs are long-term personal volunteers for Wreaths Across America, and they have been drivers for Mohawk’s Wreaths
Across America transports for all three years.
Both groups received a departure escort from the City of Calhoun, Gordon County and Whitfield County Sheriff’s departments when they left Calhoun.
“The Mohawk Transportation team is proud to sponsor Wreaths Across America for our third consecutive year, and we are are commited to continuing our support for years to come,” said Mohawk Sr. Director of Transportation Brian Walraven.“We have many excellent team members who are veterans or active-service military, and this is one small way we can show them our appreciation for their commitment to our country and their ongoing legacy.”
The specially-wrapped trailers were designed for the occasion by Mohawk Flooring North America’s Marketing Creative Operations team in honor and remembrance of those that served our country.
“For the last three years, our team has had the opportunity to be a transportation partner to Wreaths Across America,” said Mohawk Sr. HR Director Micah Riggle. “Each year, our team looks forward to helping
these meaningful wreaths make their way from Maine to the cemetery where they will be laid on the grave of a brave veteran. Each wreath represents the story of a man or woman who put their life on the line for our freedom. I encourage everyone to go to WreathsAcrossAmerica.org to learn more about their mission and see why we are so passionate about this project.”
In addition to employing many veterans across the country, Mohawk has been a leading supporter of Building for America’s Bravest, providing flooring for new homes for the nation’s most seriously wounded veterans. Mohawk was also recently named to Forbes List of America’s Best Employers for Veterans 2021.
Wreaths Across America is a national nonprofit organization founded in 2007 to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992.
They coordinate the annual transport, delivery and placement of more than two million wreaths on the graves of U.S. veterans around the world.