December 18, 2020 – St. Lawrence, WI – Volunteers from the Allenton American Legion volunteered their time Thursday night helping to unload 387 wreaths that came in from Columbia Falls, Maine.
“We were in Maine on Monday, December 14 and then we made seven stops on our way home,” said semi driver Travis Witt. “We delivered to norther Illinois, several cemeteries on our way back to St. Lawrence and now our last stop will be in King, WI.”
Witt said delivering wreaths as part of Wreaths Across America has a two-fold mission for him. Not only is he a semi driver but he is also a sitting commander, first lieutenant on the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary in Eau Claire, WI.
“This is the first opportunity I’ve had to give up seven days of my time to go up to Columbia Falls, Maine and actually transport the wreaths across the country which will then be used to mark the graves in local cemeteries,” said Witt.
“Every single wreath in this truck represents a life sacrificed either in the military or they’ve passed after honorably serving their country. For me to give up a week of my time is one of the easiest decisions I’ve had to make.”
Witt said he was very humbled by the experience “especially in today’s climate it is not every day you get to be part of something much larger….”
Witt was on the road for about 2,800 miles round trip.
There were 657 cases per semi which totals 5,913 wreaths.
Allenton American Legion received 387 wreaths
There were 15 semi loads on three different days that went to Arlington National Cemetery, 88,695 wreaths per day at Arlington for a total of 266,085 wreaths.
Veteran Vince Strupp of St. Lawrence also made the trip and helped deliver wreaths to Arlington.
In total Wreaths Across America ships 485 semi loads prior to December 17 which includes 2,867,805 wreaths for the cemeteries on the mainland of USA plus 100 cargo containers that went overseas.
The Allenton American Legion will be distributing the wreaths for pickup on Saturday, December 19. Wreaths will be placed at veterans graves in cemeteries across Washington County.
