From the Driver's Seat

A Life-Changing Journey With the 2024 Wreaths Across America Honor Convoy

By Perry Carter, Professional Driver, Cargo Transporters Inc.; America’s Road Team Captain

Driving a tractor-trailer is not just a job for me; it is a journey through the roadways and heartbeat of America. I am Perry Carter, and I have been a professional truck driver for 34 years, the last 23 years with Cargo Transporters Inc. I have logged 2.8 million crash-free miles and served in the United States Air Force for six years. I have been fortunate enough to deliver six Loads of Honor to Arlington National Cemetery. Last fall, I was asked to be a part of the 2024 Honor Convoy for Wreaths Across America. This convoy is known as the country’s longest veterans’ parade and kicks off a week before National Wreath Day in Maine. This weeklong journey was life-changing for me and continues to motivate me.

The Honor Convoy consisted of 140 people in 13 tractor-trailers and more than 50 passenger vehicles who traveled together for seven days. We started in Maine and traveled through 10 states along the Eastern Seaboard and visited with countless Americans. Our journey culminated at the Arlington National Cemetery, with our convoy delivering over approximately 62,000 ceremonial wreaths.

Traveling in a two-mile convoy meant a lot of planning, and there was a dedicated team to execute those plans. Being a member of the convoy meant daily morning briefings, given by Janine Roberts, retired Portland, Maine, chief of police. Roberts covered the daily itinerary, and we were given daily reminders of our following distance. With a group this large, we could not afford to have the accordion effect happen in our convoy.

The accordion effect is a phenomenon wherein the vehicles stretch out, the convoy separates and then comes together too quickly and closely, often leading to unnecessary braking and acceleration. We were given an idea of the general speed we would travel that particular day, and if things changed, we were updated via radio to adjust our speeds. Adjusting speed could mean as small as an adjustment of only one mile per hour. The convoy had to be a well-oiled machine to accomplish our daily goals. Each day, the convoy had about three scheduled stops, and pre-trips and post-trips were mandatory to keep our vehicles convoyready.

Imagine trying to coordinate fuel stops and parking with that many vehicles, which is what Chief Roberts and her group also managed. After our daily events came the task of parking the group. In New Jersey, our parking plan changed. Chief Roberts and her group pivoted and found parking at a local mall. This change was a blessing in disguise; while there, we practiced our staging for the event at Dover Motor Speedway. This Dover Motor Speedway stop was a highlight for many, including founder of Wreaths Across America Morrill Worcester. The Speedway event ended with red, white and blue fireworks, just like a true race. Mr. Worchester was able to raise his flag and announce, “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines,” to which we all obliged him.

We all see the division that mainstream media and our social media feeds us daily, but through participating in the Honor Convoy, I saw united communities and patriotism in the

young and old, which brought tears to my eyes and brought a renewed sense of patriotism to me. To see each community’s streets with people waving American flags was amazing. I only wish everyone could experience this warm patriotic embrace. Wreaths Across America’s mission is to “Remember the fallen, honor those who served and teach the next generation the value of freedom.”

Behind the wheel, in the convoy, I am more than a truck driver – I am a steward of memories, entrusted with a solemn duty to ensure that these wreaths reach their destination with dignity and respect. The weight of the cargo I carry is not just measured in tons but in the collective gratitude of a nation.

To learn more about Wreaths Across America, go to www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.