On the second Saturday of December in Laredo, Texas, an early morning convoy can be seen heading toward the City Cemetery, a tangible reminder that it’s Wreaths Across America Day. A tractor-trailer flanked by police escorts arrives to a sea of volunteers ready to honor the memory of fallen veterans by placing the newly arrived evergreen wreaths at their headstones.

While this is only Laredo’s fourth year recognizing Wreaths Across America Day, it has already become one of the city’s most beloved ceremonies. It’s also thanks to Landstar business capacity owner (BCO) Bob Mead and his wife that the crowd has gathered for this annual event at the cemetery. Without their dedication to establishing the program in their city, this morning might look like any other.

According to Wreaths Across America (WAA), the nonprofit pays tribute to military lives lost in the line of duty by placing wreaths on their graves in military cemeteries across the country on Wreaths Across America Day. Every year, WAA coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at over 4,600 locations across the United States and abroad, all with the sole purpose of honoring veterans from all branches of service who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Mead had been involved with WAA’s mission long before organizing Laredo’s ceremony. In fact, for ten years, he volunteered to haul fresh wreaths from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, one of the nation’s oldest and largest national cemeteries. During his tenure, Mead would be the first of over 50 trucks to arrive with wreaths to approximately 100,000 volunteers ready to lay them across Arlington's 639 acres during the annual ceremony. He estimates he’s delivered over 75,000 wreaths during his volunteer hauls.

“It’s a cause that’s needed,” Mead said. “It’s a way to remember, honor, and teach the next generation the value of freedom.”

Mead also helps recruit other Landstar BCOs to haul for Wreaths Across America. BCO James Heilig, currently in his second year delivering wreaths from Maine to the Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, coordinates with Mead before his runs.

“There are good people on this project,” Heilig said. “Our veterans have sacrificed so much for us, and we should show that sacrifice matters.”

The year 2021 marked a change in the trajectory of Mead’s mission. After arriving back home from a haul, he learned that a local Laredo Marine, Lance Corporal David Lee Espinoza, had died in service to our country. That year, Mead led nearly 200 motorcycle riders to honor Espinoza during a 30-mile procession. That memorable experience inspired Mead to expand his efforts to honor all of Laredo’s fallen heroes. In that same year, he and his wife raised funds to purchase 1,300 wreaths for the city’s first Wreaths Across America Day ceremony—launching a project that continues to grow in reach and impact.

“We started talking about how it doesn’t happen in Laredo,” he said. “We realized that was only because nobody had ever started it.”

With the added help of Espinoza’s mother, the city council, and South Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar, Laredo’s Wreaths Across America Day now has 45 law enforcement vehicles escorting the wreath-filled tractor-trailer into the City Cemetery grounds. Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) units from area high schools, the Law Enforcement Exploring youth program, Veterans of Foreign Wars legions, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, as well as the Catholic Daughters of America and Knights of Columbus, volunteer their services. A locally renowned Mariachi band plays “Amazing Grace,” and this year, the Laredo Fire Department’s Pipes and Drums band has a premier performance — to which Mead excitedly explained, “You don’t know how hard it is to find bagpipes in Laredo.” Most importantly, over 800 volunteers and 1,800 wreaths adorn headstones — nearly enough for every veteran grave in the city.

“It’s something that we use to bring everybody together,” Mead said. “It’s the stories that we hear; it’s a lot of listening to people. I’m an old man, and I still get a tear in my eye every year. Our goal is to make sure nobody ever forgets.”