Share the Road Truck, ATA Members Deliver as Part of Wreaths Across America

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Dec 17, 2014, 10:27 ET

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This weekend, American Trucking Associations' Share the Road truck, along with dozens of other trucks from ATA members completed their journey from Harrington, Maine to Arlington National Cemetery delivering handmade wreaths as a part of the annual Wreaths Across America tour.

"We have seen so many moving scenes on our trip," said Nate McCarty, a Share the Road professional driver with ABF Freight System, "I'm so honored and touched that I was able to be a part of such an important cause."

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight.Trucking Moves America Forward.

McCarty, and fellow ABF Freight System and Share the Road professional driver Ralph Garcia, Harrington on December 7 along with dozens of other trucks carrying handmade wreaths to decorate the graves of more than 720,000 fallen soldiers nationwide, including 230,000 at Arlington National Cemetery marking the first time every headstone there had been decorated.

In all, the trucking industry delivered 283 truckloads of wreaths to 1,034 veterans' cemeteries across the country.

"Stopping at schools and communities and landmarks, we spoke to so many people with so many incredible stories about their loved ones and about why they're so passionate about Wreaths Across America," Garcia said. "This was such a tremendous privilege and I'm thankful to all those who donated or volunteered to make this event possible."

"As I've said several times, there's no higher calling for an American than to serve in our armed forces, and we're pleased to honor those servicemen and women who have given their lives in that service," said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. "Whether it is events like Wreaths Across America, or our recent commitment to hire 100,000 veterans, the trucking industry feels deeply indebted to those who serve our country and are happy to give back in any way we can."

Watch a video of Garcia and McCarty at Arlington by clicking here, or catch up on the Share the Road truck's journey as part of Wreaths Across America on the ATA website.

American Trucking Associations' Share the Road is a highway safety program that delivers life-saving messages to hundreds of U.S. cities and reaches millions of motorists annually, designed to educate automobile drivers about sharing the roads safely with trucks. The program, sponsored by Mack Trucks, Inc. and Michelin North America Inc., is represented by an elite team of professional truck drivers with millions of miles of accident-free driving. www.atastr.org Follow the Share the Road on Twitter and Facebook.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward.

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SOURCE American Trucking Associations