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 4,909 participating locations, in addition to Arlington National Cemetery, transportation logistics were 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.

The dynamic trucking duo of Paul and Kristie Sagehorn with Paul MH Sagehorn, LLC have a fascinating story to share and a long history of involvement with Wreaths Across America.

Paul knew from a tender young age that he wanted to be a professional truck driver and attributes that desire to some of the TV shows and movies back in the 70’s that glamorized the trade. Right out of high school, Paul joined the Navy and served with the Navy Seabees for three years. “Due to the nature of the construction, I operated a lot of equipment, but I didn’t do a lot of driving,” Paul shared. “I chose the Navy because it was a family tradition. My father and grandfather served, and I knew that I wanted to do that too at a young age.”  It wasn’t until Paul separated from the Navy that he pursued his CDL.

Kristie on the other hand never had thoughts of becoming a professional driver when she was young and instead settled on the teaching profession. “I taught for thirty-two years,” Kristie explained. “Even though Paul suggested I could earn my CDL I never really thought it was possible. After years of teaching, I decided to surprise Paul, and I went behind his back and got my permit and my son helped me, so I was able to give that to Paul on his birthday. He and I worked on it together after that and in February of 2020 I went for my license and got it on the first go. I’ve had my CDL for five years now, and I don’t go with him on every trip, but I do go every year with him in December.”

Paul admits it was a surprise. “Of course I didn’t know, but we had talked about it after she retired from teaching. So, we worked on it when they shut everything down that year and it was pretty impressive that she got her CDL on the first go for someone who has no background in it.”

Kristie says she loved teaching young students, but it was a time for a change after thirty-two years and she wanted to spend more time with Paul. Kristie says despite the proximity as a driving duo there’s usually harmony on the road. “We get along pretty well,” Kristie chuckled.

Paul explains that he heard about Wreaths Across America back in 2014 when he heard Debbie Sparks interviewed on a radio trucking channel. “I didn’t usually have it on, but it was that day and they were trying to increase the amount of trucks for Arlington. I was intrigued by what I heard, and I followed up online and once I learned what they were doing I said I have to be a part of this no matter how that happens. It was a lot different back then compared to how we do it now.”

Kristie, even while teaching, participated all eleven years with Paul taking some time off to join him in D.C. for the night-before Wreath Day. Now with her CDL, she’s been helping Paul make the journey to Maine every year to pick up the veterans’ wreaths.

Paul expressed why they’ve been supporting the mission for so many years. “There’s just something about it that once you do it once you keep coming back. When all the volunteer start coming into the cemetery it’s great to talk to them. So many of them have no idea how it all works, and some think it’s a government program, so you just start explaining it to them and once they understand it, they really appreciate what we do. We really plan our whole year around it. No matter what happens, in December we will be in that cemetery.”

Kristie concurred with that sentiment and expanded more on their participation. “We’ve made so many friends with different people and organizations because we’ve been doing two trips. We go to Vermont and New York first and then we go back to Maine for our Arlington load. A couple of different years we’ve met Gold Star families who have come up and thanked us for what we’re doing and it’s just so heart-warming that we wouldn’t even think about not doing it.”

As Paul mentioned operations have changed since he started participating in 2014. “They’ve really streamlined the process and its much smoother now than what it was and the facilities they have for drivers have improved greatly.”

Of course, as the mission expands to more and more participating locations throughout the country the transportation division of Wreaths Across America continues to fine tune the delivery of well over 3 million veterans’ wreaths requiring a great deal of flexibility from the members of the Honor Fleet.

Thank you, Paul and Kristie, for your service to our country, and for your continued commitment to 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 Paul and Kristie 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 as part of RadioNemo on Sirius XM Channel 146, Road Dog Trucking.”

Discover the Trucking Tributes archive playlist on Soundcloud.com