Pilot Flying J Pledges to Raise $100,000 for Wreaths Across America

With some help from professional drivers across the nation, Pilot Flying J has pledged to raise $100,000 to honor the nation's fallen heroes by supporting Wreaths Across America.

WAA is a non-profit organization dedicated to coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies each December at Arlington National Cemetery and nearly 800 additional veteran cemeteries and memorials across the country and overseas.

Pilot Flying J is asking professional drivers to join in its "Cup with a Cause" campaign in October and November to support WAA. For just $4.99, drivers can purchase a special limited-edition travel mug from any Pilot Travel Center or Flying J Travel Plaza across the U.S. With every mug purchase, $3 will be donated to WAA.

"The mission of Wreaths Across America is 'Remember, Honor, Teach,' and we are proud to support those values," said Jimmy Haslam, CEO of Pilot Flying J. "Our friends across the industry including the Truckload Carriers Association, many professional drivers and trucking companies are already very involved in the program. We're proud to join our friends and colleagues in honoring the men and women who gave their lives to defend our nation, and we're sure our customers will want to help us too."

WAA and the Truckload Carriers Association recently announced a partnership through which TCA will help dispatch drivers and coordinate logistics of wreath delivery across the country. Each year, trucking companies and professional drivers donate their time and resources to deliver thousands of WAA remembrance wreaths.

The program started in 1992 when Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, realized he had a surplus of wreaths nearing the end of the holiday season. Remembering a boyhood experience at Arlington, Worcester realized he had an opportunity to honor U.S. veterans. With the help of Maine Senator Olympia Snowe and many others, arrangements were made for the wreaths to be placed at Arlington. The program has grown ever since to include more volunteers, more locations and more wreaths - a total of 325,000 of them in 2011.

Last year, WAA marked its 20th anniversary trip to Arlington by placing 90,000 remembrance wreaths. The goal for 2012 is to place a wreath on each of the 225,000 headstones at the cemetery.

As a token of appreciation for customers who support the "Cup with a Cause" campaign, each travel mug will include a coupon for a free refill. Customers can redeem the coupon for any coffee or cappuccino selection, including Pilot Flying J's seasonal Pumpkin Spice coffee starting in October.

For more information about Wreaths Across America, please visit www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.

To find a Pilot Flying J location nearest you to purchase your "Cup with a Cause" mug, visit www.pilotflyingj.com or download the Pilot Flying J app to your smartphone.