Normally, Keshon Patterson’s cargo is hen, each contemporary and frozen. He’s a driver for Tyson Foods.
But earlier this week, he carried one thing of nice seasonal significance: wreaths to honor the fallen troopers at Arlington National Cemetery, together with three wreaths for folks near him in his life.
Patterson, a member of the National Guard, first discovered about Wreaths Across America at work final 12 months, by way of his coach at Tyson Foods. When Patterson talked about his navy expertise, his coach stated that the corporate has been concerned with Wreaths Across America since 2010.
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“He even showed me some videos he’d previously recorded,” stated Patterson. One confirmed the convoy of Tyson Foods vehicles bringing Christmas wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery.
“I told him I would love to be a part of Wreaths Across America one day in the near future,” Patterson shared with Fox News Digital.
“I had no idea it would come so quickly for me.”

Keshon Patterson of North Carolina is a member of the North Carolina National Guard and a truck driver for Tyson Foods. He informed Fox News Digital it was an “honor” for him to participate within the Wreaths Across America effort this 12 months. (Wreaths Across America Staff)
‘Long line of military family’
Born and raised in small-town Georgia, Patterson moved to North Carolina as a teen and joined the North Carolina Army National Guard in May 2019. He serves within the 881st Engineering Company.
“I joined the National Guard because I wanted to give back to my country,” he stated.
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On the week-long trek of bringing the wreaths from Maine to Virginia, Patterson informed Fox News Digital that he felt a mixture of feelings.
“I feel proud, honored and sad all at once,” he stated. “I come from a long line of military family — so when I say it is an honor, I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”
“I love being able to help veterans as well as those like myself who are currently serving.”
Patterson additionally praised the work of everybody concerned within the convoy.
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In complete, it consisted of 25 truckloads of wreaths. It traveled throughout 14 states.
“It has been an honor to be chosen to participate in this memorable program and just to be able to ride along some great and remarkable people,” stated Patterson — together with veterans, volunteers, members of legislation enforcement and Gold Star households.

Every 12 months, Wreaths Across America locations Christmas wreaths on the headstones of America’s veterans. Above, a view of a bit of Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. (Wreaths Across America Staff)
“We could have not done this convoy if it was not for all the people that played a part in this,” he stated.
“Coming from the bottom of my heart, I would like to give a big thank you to everyone involved,” he additionally stated.
On Saturday, Patterson can be putting wreaths on the graves of his father, Lester Patterson, his uncle, Lenton Charles McRae, and his shut pal and “battle buddy,” Max Avila.
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“I love being able to help veterans as well as those like myself who are currently serving. Helping their families and helping their communities truly means the world to me,” he informed Fox News Digital.
“I am thankful for Wreaths Across America, my employer, Tyson Foodsm as well as all the amazing people I have come to know during our convoy to Arlington Cemetery,” stated Patterson.

The convoy for Wreaths Across America this 12 months consisted of 25 vehicles; it traveled by way of 14 states. Wreaths had been dropped off at greater than 100 cemeteries forward of Dec. 16, 2023. Keshon Patterson was one of many drivers. (Wreaths Across America Staff)
In 1992, Morrill Worcester, proprietor of the Worcester Wreath Company of Maine, had a surplus of wreaths, stated the Wreaths Across America web site.
Working along with his senator, he donated the wreaths for placement at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
The custom continued annually with little fanfare or discover, stated the web site.

Keshon Patterson was one of many drivers who helped ship the wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery for the 2023 Wreaths Across America occasion. (Wreaths Across America Staff)
“Everything changed in 2005, when a photo of the stones at Arlington, adorned with wreaths and covered in snow, circulated around the internet. Suddenly, the homespun tribute from a small town in downeast Maine was receiving national attention,” stated the Wreaths Across America web site.
In 2007, the Worcester household formally based Wreaths Across America as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group. The following 12 months, wreath-laying ceremonies had been held in additional than 300 places in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and abroad.
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By 2014, Wreaths Across America was in a position to place a wreath in any respect 226,525 graves at Arlington National Cemetery, says the Department of Defense’s web site.
An estimated three million wreaths can be positioned on the headstones of America’s veterans this 12 months.
Congress designated the date Dec. 13, 2008, as the primary “Wreaths Across America Day.”

Wreaths lay on the foot of headstones in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery on Dec. 14, 2013 in Arlington, Virginia. Each 12 months, volunteers and households of the fallen place scores of remembrance wreaths on headstones on National Wreaths Across America Day. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
In 2023, Wreaths Across America Day is December 16.
This 12 months’s theme is “Serve and succeed.”
An estimated three million wreaths can be positioned on the headstones of America’s veterans in December 2023.
To discover ways to take part on behalf of America’s fallen veterans, anybody can go to www.wreathsacrossamerica.org to seek out extra info and particulars.
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