It’s the holidays again and the second year CJ (Calliope LLC) is volunteering with Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit organization that distributes wreaths to military cemeteries across the U.S. Named the “Honor Fleet,” trucking partners and volunteers make up the backbone of the organization’s efforts as they haul millions of wreaths to honor our country’s fallen soldiers at the holidays.
CJ was raised in a military family and understands first-hand the importance and the impact of honoring those who served. Both of her grandfathers were veterans, her mother was an army veteran, and her late husband served, making her a Gold Star Wife. By volunteering with Wreaths Across America, she pays homage to her family, as well as millions of others.
This year, CJ volunteered to pick up wreaths in St. Louis and spent three days delivering to Minnesota, Iowa, and North Dakota. An advocate for the organization, she also appreciates its Wreaths Across America Remembrance Tree Program, which invites Gold Star families, or families of those who passed while serving or as a result of serving in the Armed Forces of the United States, to select a living balsam tree, hang a dog tag of their deceased loved one, and mark it as their family tree in a living commemoration of their service.
Before CJ got behind the wheel, she worked in web development and taught herself HTML, PHP, MySQL. When her late husband was diagnosed with a melanoma in 2009, she stepped in to support her family and has been driving ever since. If you ask CJ, the technical and logical thinking skills she developed through web development has helped her in trucking–an industry that requires constant problem solving. In fact, this year CJ was crowned “Queen of the Road” by Real Women in Trucking, a trade association dedicated to supporting and amplifying women in the trucking industry.
Right now, CJ admits the market is rough for drivers but she prides herself on being tenacious. Like many drivers, she faces uncertainty and challenges like a stolen trailer and major expenses on her truck. But she’ll hang in there, as she clearly has the critical thinking, creativity, and perseverance to keep trucking. And as “the only load board [she uses],” we’re proud to be a small part of her journey.
Follow CJ on X (Twitter) @cjmarley
Support Wreaths Across America
