To honor and shine the spotlight on America’s fallen heroes, the Shell ROTELLA® brand – with Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) – will partake in the annual wreath laying ceremony at Houston National Cemetery on December 12. As a proud supporter of Wreaths Across America, a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring and thanking our veterans for their service and sacrifice, the brand will play a pivotal role in transporting thousands of wreaths from Columbia Falls, Maine down to Houston, in time for this year’s observance.
“Each year, Wreaths Across America works to ensure that each fallen U.S. hero is honored during the holiday season through the laying of a wreath at cemeteries nationwide,” said Chris Guerrero, global brand manager, Shell ROTELLA. “Shell ROTELLA places a high value on hard work and who better exemplifies that ethic than the veterans of our country? The brand’s support of this extraordinary program allows ROTELLA to give back to the heroes who selflessly shared their lives to protect us and our nation.”
Shell ROTELLA and driver Jerry Kissinger, a regular participant in the Shell ROTELLA SuperRigs competition, has embarked on a three-day journey from Columbia Falls hauling a tractor-trailer’s load of wreaths for Wreath Day. Upon arrival at the Houston National Cemetery on Saturday, December 12, Shell employees will be awaiting the truckload and will participate in the wreath laying in an effort to remember our fallen heroes, honor those who serve, and teach our children about the sacrifices made by veterans and their families to preserve our freedoms.
Kissinger, a Stoughton, Wis. native, was the first U.S. inductee into the Shell ROTELLA Million Mile Haul of Fame back in April 2011, a program designed to recognize drivers who respect their rig and its engine and take pride in their hard work. His 1991 Mack Superliner boasts more than one million miles while using solely Shell ROTELLA T heavy-duty oil in his engine. As a veteran truck driver and a supporter of philanthropic organizations including the Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish foundation, Kissinger was the clear choice as the driver to stand by Shell ROTELLA throughout this year’s Wreaths Across America program.
TCA, the only national trade association whose sole focus is the truckload segment of the motor carrier industry, has partnered with Wreaths Across America to lead in the distribution and overall logistical support of the program for the last seven years. Each September, TCA hosts the Wreaths Across America Gala, a fundraising event held in Washington, D.C. to benefit the Arlington National Cemetery.
In 2014, TCA helped to deliver and place more than 230,000 wreaths on every grave in Arlington National Cemetery, while delivering 716,000 wreaths to 1,034 veteran cemeteries nationwide. Wreaths Across America was formed in 2007 as an extension of The Arlington Wreath Project, with over 700 participating location in all 50 states and 24 national veteran cemeteries on foreign soil. Together, Shell ROTELLA, Wreaths Across America and TCA will work with others in the trucking industry in 2015 toward the common goal of placing a projected 900,000 wreaths and honoring fallen U.S. heroes during the holiday season.
To learn about the hard work Shell ROTELLA is doing every day, visit ROTELLA.com and follow ROTELLA on Facebook, Twitter, and on Instagram.
