As one of most-popular landmarks in Washington D.C., the Vietnam Veterans Memorial attracts more than 5 million visitors each year. However, traveling to see it isn’t possible for everyone who wants to pay their respects to those who died during the war.

Thanks to help from volunteer truck drivers like Landstar owner-operator team, Gretchen Darmetko and Angela Surette, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is able to transport a scaled-down version of the Vietnam Memorial, known as The Wall That Heals, to Americans across the country.

Built in 1996, The Wall That Heals is one of VVMF’s most prominent projects that aims to bring the exhibit to surviving families, friends and veterans, according to the project’s website. The Wall That Heals is a replica of the Vietnam Memorial with a mobile education center that travels across the country in a series of trailers hauled by volunteer drivers. 

Landstar was one of the freight transportation companies that supported VVMF with its Hauling the Wall That Heals project this year. Darmetko and Surette, business capacity owners (BCOs) leased to Landstar, saw a post in Landstar’s Facebook group asking for volunteer drivers and quickly jumped at the opportunity. Good timing and a great driving record made them a top choice.

For Darmetko, this haul was close to her heart.

"As an Army Veteran, I see how this memorial is such a positive thing to bring across the country," she said. "Sometimes something comes along that you know is the right thing to do. This was that for me.”

After traveling to 22 states over 11 months during its 29th annual tour, the exhibit’s final stop was in Panama City, Florida. According to a VVMF representative at that event, about 4,500 visitors came to the exhibit’s final showing of the year. It concluded with a ceremony performing taps and soaring jets to mark the journey's end. Darmetko and Surette were honored to haul the exhibit the 1,000 miles from there back to Washington, D.C. While leaving Panama City, they felt pride being escorted out by police as the community sent them off.

The BCO team spent three days volunteering their time hauling the wall. Landstar provided them with the fuel, logistics, and points of contact to help get the wall back to Washington, D.C. The mobile replica is constructed from synthetic material and features an aluminum frame that supports 140 detachable panels, making traveling in a customized trailer possible. However, due to the size and structure of the trailer, experienced drivers like the BCO team are needed. Landstar ensured Darmetko and Surette had everything they logistically needed to safely transport the wall from pick-up to drop-off. 

As a Million Mile Safe Driver leased with Landstar for 19 years, Surette said she is grateful for the experience and credits the company with making it possible. 

"We’ve operated our business through Landstar for a long time," Darmetko said. "Thanks to them, we had the opportunity to volunteer to haul The Wall that Heals. Being affiliated with Landstar allowed us to do this. I am honored to haul the memorial and thankful to have seen the exhibit."

“We always want to give back and show the community that truckers are good-hearted people,” said Surette. “The experience will be in my heart forever."