Wreaths Across America's Trucking Tributes Presents Rock Solid Transport, LLC.


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. With over 3,136 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.

Rock Solid Transport, LLC. in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, has been involved with the mission since 2017, according to its office manager Melisa Rongstad. “In the Fall of 2017, I went to an insurance seminar, and the presenter posted a thing on the screen about Wreaths Across America and said his son was in the Air Force, and this was a great organization,” Melisa explained how they got started. “I went back to the office, and the same day one of my drivers came in and said he had heard about Wreaths Across America on Road Dog radio and wanted to know if I knew about it. So, we went online, and I signed up that driver, Bob, and my husband, Ross, that day.” Both Bob and Ross have served their country in the U.S. military.

That was 2017. “This year, we had the Mobile Education Exhibit at our company party, and drivers met Don Queeney. At that meeting, I asked how many were going to participate this year, and seven of my drivers who have done it in the past said yes, and I had two more who wanted to go,” Melisa explained. “That’s half of our fleet! We have eighteen owner-operators at Rock Solid, and nine of them want to do it.” Melisa says it was an incredible experience to be part of the pinning and welcoming home ceremony of at least ten Vietnam-era veterans while the Mobile Education exhibit was on site and open to the public.

As Melisa shares, the logistics behind Rock Solid’s investment of time and resources are detailed and have been fine-tuned over the years. “We can renew the loads we had last year if we want to, and they’ve already been in touch with us. The guys know ahead of time where they’re going and when to leave. We get out there a day or two ahead of time so we can all meet, and we like to stay for the send-off dinner and leave with the Annual Wreath Escort to Arlington that Sunday when possible. Then we peel off in our separate ways and call our cemeteries to get things lined up. Many of my drivers have several stops, like Scott in Ohio, who has like eight, and these all have to get there in time for Wreaths Across America Day. We couldn’t do this if the company's owner, Mike Harsh, weren’t on board one hundred percent. He helps to find loads for them when they head out to Maine to get the wreaths.

Melisa says everyone at Rock Solid feels the teaching portion of the mission is the most important. “I think people need to understand that we’re not decorating graves at Christmastime. It’s about something so much bigger than that. People who visited the Mobile Education Exhibit didn't really understand the gravity of it until they watched the videos and saw the pinning. Every year that I’ve gone with Ross and the escort leaves, there are lots of people standing on the sides of the roads waving, and we always see this one man with a cane who looks like he’s wearing at least part of his service uniform and he salutes every truck that goes by. I was telling my husband, one of these trips, he’s not going to be there anymore, and one of the wreaths in one of these trailers will be his.”

Thank you, Melisa, and all those at Rock Solid Transport who support the mission to remember, honor, and teach! You can hear Melisa’s full interview on Trucking Tributes. Trucking Tributes is heard every Trucking Tuesday at 11:00 AM and again at 4:00 PM (eastern) exclusively on Wreaths Across America Radio.