Wreaths Across America's Trucking Tributes Presents Leonard's Express


Professional drivers and trucking companies give so much to the nation. Without the transportation industry, the Wreaths Across America mission to remember, honor, and teach would be nearly impossible. Veterans’ wreaths move by planes, trains, ships, and livestock trailers, but trucks and their professional drivers transport the lion’s share of America's respect. In 2021, to be specific, 525 truckloads of wreaths were delivered, representing 390 different carriers.

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, that unity makes it possible for Americans to honor millions of veterans laid to rest here at home and overseas. In 2022, with over 3,400 participating locations, in addition to Arlington National Cemetery, transportation logistics are immense.

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

John Bugbee has a passion for the trucking industry. “In 1994, I was paying my way through college, and I had to take a semester off for bucks and stuff,” John shared. “I went to work with my father in Philadelphia at a company known at the time as K.J. Transportation.” Twenty-eight years later, John is still with that company, renamed Leonard’s Express.Every day is a new day. It’s a different learning experience, no matter how many years you’ve been in this business.”

Leonard's Express is one of the Johnson Family businesses. It started in the early eighties by Kent and Pat Johnson; the Johnson sons, Kenny, Kevin, and Kyle, are running operations today. The company has approximately five-hundred asset trucks with terminals in North Carolina, Wisconsin, Idaho, Delaware, and New York, along with several satellite locations throughout the country. “We’re getting bigger, better, and stronger, and it’s good to be with the family,” John expressed.

Leonard’s Express shares its success. “We’ve always been involved with our communities through local and national charities. We run breast cancer trucks with the pink ribbon logo and donate a penny per mile for every mile those trucks run. We also run trucks for Parkinson's disease and donate to that foundation similarly. We have veterans' trucks that are solely operated by veterans of each branch of the service. They have beautiful pieces of equipment customized to their branch of service, and the drivers are proud to operate them. ‘Help those who help us’ has always been a part of the K.J. and Leonard’s Express company culture.”

That company's commitment to giving back led Leonard’s Express to Wreaths Across America about eight years ago. “When we first started, we did two loads, one to Florida and one to Wisconsin, with drivers who were veterans. The driver in Wisconsin was delivering wreaths to a cemetery where some of his family members were buried, so that meant a lot for him to run the Wreaths out there. As the years have gone by, other drivers have shown extreme interest in doing this. It’s been overwhelming every year to see how many people want to help with this cause.” Leonard’s Express has found a way to serve in 2022, hauling eight truckloads of America’s respect throughout the country. “We’ve got a thirteen-stop wreath run from Maine to Colorado, one going to Idaho, three to Florida, and our guy in Wisconsin is doing it again this year. We’re extremely proud and privileged to do this for Wreaths Across America. Some drivers who do this have developed a kinship with those volunteers at the cemeteries. They call to check on them during the season and communicate even after the season.”

John’s family history is rich with military service. His grandfather Herman, his brother, and all of the relatives on his father's side were in the military during World War II and the Korean conflicts. His father-in-law, Ed Howe, was in Vietnam along with his brothers. “Recently, we asked our drivers to tell us if they were veterans so we could acknowledge their service, and we received about 175 responses, and we know of at least twenty or so more veterans,” John shared. “We think being involved with Wreaths Across America is an excellent way for us to honor them and their families and those of the fallen. We have a partnership with another off-shoot company of ours, a veterans’ outreach program that we’re proud of. If homeless veterans need help with housing, we help with that, and we have an on-site school for CDL training. We have some drivers who came through that program and are now working for us.”

Thank you, John, and all those at Leonard’s Express who support the mission to remember, honor, and teach. You can hear more from John’s interview in Trucking Tributes is listened to every Truckin’ Tuesday on Wreaths Across America Radio at 11:00 AM and again at 4:00 PM Eastern.