PERRYVILLE — Each year, Buchheit stores and divisions participate in Wreaths Across America.
“Their mission, to Remember, Honor and Teach, is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 3,136 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad.” (Wreaths Across America)
Buchheit of Jackson Store Manager Jay Stafford (right) presents Gary Kamp, Post Commander Jackson American Legion 158 (left) with a Wreaths Across America wreath.
Buchheit of Jackson Store Manager Jay Stafford (right) presents Jeff Hardy, a member of the Fischer-Walter Memorial VFW Post 4282 (left) with a Wreaths Across America wreath.
Each year, Buchheit stores and divisions participate in Wreaths Across America. Their mission, to Remember, Honor and Teach, is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 3,136 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad. The total wreaths laid on Saturday December 18 were 2.4 million.
Wreaths Across America began when a man named Morrill Worcester of Harrington, Maine, owner of Worcester Wreath Company, visited Arlington National Cemetery in our nation’s capital for the first time. He was in awe of what he saw there, and his experience made an everlasting impression.
Several years later, Worcester began sending each state seven wreaths, one for each military branch and for POWs/MIAs (Prisoners of War/Missing in Action). “In 2007, the Worcester family, along with veterans, and other groups and individuals who had helped with their annual veterans wreath ceremony in Arlington, formed Wreaths Across America, a non-profit 501-(c)(3) organization.” (Wreaths Across America)
Since 2015, Buchheit has participated in Wreaths Across America, delivering a total of over 35,000 wreaths. Each year, drivers donate their time, Buchheit donates wreaths and trucks, and the wreaths are delivered to various veteran cemeteries in the area.
This year, Buchheit Logistics, the regional leader in transportation and warehousing,
and their sponsors, Missouri Great Dane and Cline Wood Insurance Agency, in conjunction with the Buchheit Family Foundation have donated the transportation of two truckloads, approximately 10,000, wreaths.
US Army Veteran Michael Black and US Navy Veteran David Ayers were chosen to represent Buchheit Logistics in this year’s efforts to honor our fallen veterans.
Michael Black started working for Buchheit Logistics in May of 2019 in the Vans division.
Being a patriotic individual, and Michael’s desire to better his family, led him to join the Army in October of 1985. Michael did his initial training at Fort Bliss, Texas. Michael then spent his remaining years in the Army deployed in Giebelstadt, Germany which was the previous location of Hitler’s secret air base. During this time, he was assigned to Alpha Battery 843rd ADA under the 32nd Army Air Defense command as a tactile operator with the Patriot missiles operations. Michael was on the front when the Berlin wall came down in 1989. In Michael’s five years he accumulated numerous awards and left the Army in 1990 with the rank E-4. Michael isn’t the first in his family to serve his country with his great uncles serving in WWII. Michael’s patriotism was not lost on his children. Michael has a son that served in the Navy, a daughter that served in the Army, and a son that is currently serving in the Air Force in Italy.
David Ayers started working for Buchheit Logistics in April of 2019 as a Capital Sand End Dump driver. David was the owner of Sandy’s Malt Shop, a 50’s diner, in Malden, MO when tragedy struck the United States. September 11, 2001 was a defining moment for David. Having never had an interest in serving in the military, David enlisted in the Navy feeling that something had to be done. David trained at the Great Lakes Naval Facility Center on the North Side of Chicago as a Master At Arms and as a member of the Naval Reserves in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was deployed to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia for the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003 where he served as port security. David left the Navy behind in 2005 at the rank of Petty Officer-2nd Class. Upon returning home David became a Deputy for the Butler County Sheriff’s Department.
Making the delivery to the Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial is Daniel Sparks, US Army Veteran. Daniel Sparks has been with Buchheit Logistics since October 2020. Daniel is a 12-year veteran and a four-year combat veteran. Daniel has been on two deployments, one with the 101st Airborne and another with 1st Infantry Division in the United States Army.
Daniel said the moment that made him most proud to serve was when, “I was a private in my first deployment to Iraq. The morale in the platoon was low so my platoon Sergeant had us out in formation in an attempt to help us understand our purpose, he told us, ‘Look left and look right.’ The men that you see, those men are the reason that you are here.”
“We all knew the price that we may pay in that deployment, and we all stood ready to die for each other if we had to,” said Sparks. “You’ve probably had somebody tell you they would take a bullet for you. I had the honor of serving with many that proved they would.”
The Buchheit family and team believe that freedom is not free. Our freedom was given to us by the many men and women who bravely served our country. The dedication and service of our veterans should never be taken for granted.
Buchheit Family of Companies have been serving the community since 1934. Buchheit Logistics has become the number one independent logistics corporation in the region with a network connecting continents around the globe. Currently Buchheit Retail operates 8 stores – Herculaneum, House Springs, Perryville and Jackson in Missouri and Jacksonville, Greenville, Centralia and Sparta in Illinois. Buchheit features merchandise for the home, garden, and farm that is geared toward exploring the possibilities of a simpler life.