In November and December, one of the busiest periods of the year for the transportation sector, the Wreaths Across America mission brings drivers together in an effort of unparalleled unity. With a positive, “can-do” work ethic, these professionals make it possible for Americans to honor millions of veterans laid to rest at home and overseas. In 2024, with over 4,788 participating locations, in addition to Arlington National Cemetery, transportation logistics are immense.

Many of these drivers are military veterans and say the truckload of fresh balsam-fir wreaths is the most precious cargo they transport in their careers. Wreaths Across America shares their stories in the “Trucking Tributes” feature online and on Wreaths Across America Radio.

What do you do with a brand-new college degree in marketing and fashion design? You go into the trucking industry of course! “For a long time, it was a joke,” Sherry Hazelett explained with a chuckle. “Yeah, Sherry’s going to start designing clothes for the trucking industry.” Sherry had that new career path opportunity, but while she was out of college and in between interviews, she went to work with some friends at a local trucking company in town. Subsequent job advancements through the years found Sherry managing a couple of driver recruiting departments. 

Today, Sherry runs her own ad agency, Hazelett Agency, LLC. and that’s how she discovered the Wreaths Across America mission to remember, honor and teach. “I have a small agency, and that’s how I like it, but I work with some larger size companies and smaller sized trucking companies. I was doing Courtney’s advertising when she was at Sia and they volunteered a couple of trucks to haul wreaths and I said, ‘Gosh, I’ve always wanted to do that, and Courtney said the next year I had to volunteer.” 

Volunteer indeed! Sherry stepped up and became a Co-Location Coordinator with Courtney George, Transportation and Industry Relations Director for Wreaths Across America, and Carol Polney at the Long Island National Cemetery. “Everyone knows about Arlington, and rightfully so, but Long Island is huge and each year we try to increase the truckloads going in. Each year we can only do sections of the cemetery because we don’t get enough donations. It’s massive.”

So, you would certainly think, and you’d be right, Sherry has a lot to do working her ad agency and supporting the wreath-laying activities and related Wreaths Across America events on Long Island. She’s also a critical team member supporting the immense trucking logistics behind moving fresh, balsam fir veterans’ wreaths from Maine to Arlington and OVER 4,800 other participating locations. “Right now, we’re busy confirming loads with companies and matching things up so we can best determine where we still have open lanes. These drivers are so honored to be hauling these wreaths.”

It's never too late to get involved as a member of the Wreaths Across America Honor Fleet and you could be rolling with us, loaded with America’s respect for our fallen servicemen and women throughout the country. The mission is growing every day, every year as more and more volunteers step up to teach the next generation the value of freedom.

Thank you, Sherry Hazelett for your dedication and commitment to the trucking industry and the mission to remember, honor and teach.

If you’d like to join the Wreaths Across America Honor Fleet, you can get started with a click right here!

You can hear more with Sherry on Trucking Tributes, which can be listened to every Truckin’ Tuesday at 11:00 AM and again at 4:00 PM EST on Wreaths Across America Radio and Wednesday at 8:30 AM EST on Sirius XM Channel 146, Road Dog Trucking Radio.

Discover the Trucking Tributes archive playlist on Soundcloud.com