By Michael Isam
St. Augustine, Fla. – Danielle McQuarry moves mountains for Veterans in St. Johns County.
“For many years Danielle has been front and center when the need arose,” said Veterans Council Chairman Bill Dudley. “Every year since the Wreaths Across America campaign began here she has provided a truck and crew to meet the delivery truck at he parking lot of the Flying “J” truck stop to offload wreaths and deliver them for our ceremony at the St. Augustine National Cemetery.”
McQuarry was recognized for her efforts at a recent Veterans Council meeting. “I don’t come from a military family, but I felt I needed to do something for our Veterans, So I do what I do best, transportation,” said McQuarry. “My grandfather was a veteran and I do it in his memory.”
This year was quite a feat. Over 1200 wreaths were delivered. A small battalion of Veterans met the 18-wheeler and off-loaded the boxes so the load could be verified then loaded them on McQuarry’s truck. With no viable storage area at the cemetery for so many wreaths, McQuarry stored them at her business until the morning of the ceremony. After the wreaths were unloaded, the same truck proceeded north to pick up and deliver a load of “Toys For Tots” gathered by the St. Augustine Marine Corps League.
McQuarry is very shy and goes out of her way to avoid publicity and photos. “It is not about me, it is about our veterans, some of whom died so very young and some are still suffering years after the end of the war. It’s for them.”
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