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 4,600 participating locations, in addition to Arlington National Cemetery, transportation logistics are 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 and Sirius XM, Channel 146, Road Dog Trucking.

Josh McGuire is passionate about his role in the trucking industry and the mission of Wreaths Across America. Josh is the fourth-generation owner of his family’s moving and storage business, McGuire Moving and Storage in St. Louis, Missouri. He’s a member of the Honor Fleet supporting wreath-laying efforts at Jefferson Barracks National, and he operates one of Wreaths Across America’s eight cross docks throughout the country. “We operate a local business,” Josh shares. “We’re primarily household goods moving and storage with long-distance and even international service. We have trucks all over the country at any given time. We’re a small fish in a big sea of movers so we’re not the big guys, but we do a really nice job, consistently. I like the small company feel and I know all my guys and gals. We’re relationship-based not only among ourselves but our customers as well. We’re a known name with an old book of business.”

A good part of their customer base is the Department of Defense military personnel. “What better cause than supporting those who have defended our freedom. It makes us well-aligned to support veteran’s causes. Most of what we do, that’s charitable based, is with organizations like Wreaths Across America.” Josh has not served in the military but has family members who have. “I have an uncle who flew helicopters in the Army, retired, then flew helicopters for the Hopkinsville, Kentucky PD. Grandpas on both sides served in the military.”

Being in the moving and storage business Josh learned about Wreaths Across America through now retired Director of Transportation, Don Queeney. “I met him at a meeting in Rhode Island and we became friends. Don and his son Chad have really become mentors to me as I was transitioning into the family business. This cause is very close to Don’s heart, and he would get up and speak about Wreaths Across America mission at meetings and tell us what an opportunity we had, as transportation providers, to offer a truck and driver to haul wreaths from Maine where they’re put together to all points in the country that have veterans buried in national or local cemeteries. We should make that distinction clear. These wreaths are sponsored, and they go all over. They’re sponsored by citizens to be placed on the headstones of our fallen vets.”  

In addition to hauling America’s respect, Josh and his team have made it possible to support cross dock operations for Wreaths Across America enabling a smooth transfer of fresh, hand-made veterans’ wreaths from Maine to points further west. “From Maine to California is a long haul,” Josh explains. “Fuel is expensive, time is expensive, and miles are expensive. We coordinate with Wreaths so the folks who can get the wreaths half-way can drop them off with us and other carriers who are out west will pick them up from us and keep going with them whether it’s to San Diego or Seattle or elsewhere. We were fortunate enough to have a little warehouse space to throw in when the need for cross docks came up.” Wreaths Across America is fortunate to have Josh, Christine, and the other employees at McGuire who operate the St. Louis cross dock, as well as the volunteers at the other seven cross docks located throughout the country. Indeed, without this kind of support from the transportation industry, Wreaths Across America would become “wreaths stuck in Maine.” Josh said truckloads and truckloads of veterans’ wreaths go through his facility. “I offer up the space and the manpower, but the team here makes it all happen.”  It’s been reported they love the aroma of the fresh balsam fir wreaths that fills the warehouse so close to the holiday season.

Josh, his employees, and his family also participate in wreath-laying activities. “It’s inspiring. Patriotism is a good feeling we could all use more of these days.”

Thank you, Josh and the whole crew at McGuire for helping support 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 Josh 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 on Sirius XM Channel 146, Road Dog Trucking Radio.

Discover the Trucking Tributes archive playlist on Soundcloud.com