WP Rawl Sponsors Wreaths Across America Events in South Carolina; Charles Wingard Comments
PELION, SC - Holiday spirit is in the air, and it’s heartwarming to see those in the produce industry give back to their communities. For WP Rawl, this meant being a major sponsor of two annual wreath-laying ceremonies honoring fallen United States veterans on National Wreaths Across America Day.
“It's such an amazing experience,” said Charles Wingard, Vice President of Field Operations. “We’ve been very blessed, and with blessings come responsibilities. This is a way to give back to help those who made sacrifices for our great country, while we’re just making a financial sacrifice. It’s important to our family of employees to know we support this, for people to know they’re helping to give back. When you see that wrapped truck on the yard, and when you see it coming down the road and know what’s inside, it tugs on the heartstrings.”
Wingard, who attended a wreath-laying ceremony as part of a Boy Scout community service project with his son a few years ago, continues to show his appreciation for this wonderful service.
WP Rawl donates the use of its trucks, trailers, fuel, and drivers to pick up loads of hand-made wreaths in Columbia Falls, Maine, a press release explained, all of which will be delivered to national cemeteries in the provider’s home state of South Carolina. Each of the drivers are military veterans.
You can easily identify the company’s trucks as Wreaths Across America carriers due to the beautifully wrapped trailers with graphics in support of the cause. For years now, WP Rawl has been a supporter of the organization, increasing the level of support in 2016 when it began delivering wreaths to Beaufort National Cemetery. Since then, WP Rawl has added two additional loads for Fort Jackson National Cemetery.
The WP Rawl trucks, drivers, and team members participated in parades and ceremonies at both locations on December 17, 2022, the official National Wreaths Across America Day. Volunteers at the two locations laid evergreen wreaths on the headstones of each—a symbol used for centuries to recognize and honor the fallen veterans—at the two South Carolina National Cemeteries. Overall, approximately 15,000 were laid at Fort Jackson and more than 21,000 laid at Beaufort.
We commend WP Rawl for this lovely tribute to our nation’s fallen heroes.
