HICKORY
This eagle is guaranteed to turn heads, and it's going on a cross-country tour to honor America's veterans.
The eagle is emblazoned on this year's Ride of Pride road tractor.
Made by Freightliner and adorned by Hickory's Transcal Graphics, the Ride of Pride truck illustrates pride for those who serve in the military.
It's a rolling memorial and a way of promising a grateful nation won't forget.
The truck is the eighth in a series. Ride of Pride was started nine years ago by employees of Freightliner in Cleveland County, said Ed Keeter, a company employee for 39 years.
Today, Freightliner foots the bill for the custom graphics package. Transcal makes and applies the decals.
The truck will lead the Rolling Thunder procession on Memorial Day in Washington, D.C. Before and after, it will cross America, making stops along the way at veterans hospitals, monuments, cemeteries, public events and veterans' gatherings.
"Truck number seven was on the road for 18 months," Keeter said. He's also a member of Rolling Thunder, a veterans organization advocating for the many MIAs and POWs with the vow they will never be forgotten.
"Freedom isn't free," said Keeter, who is president of the Rolling Thunder chapter in Salisbury and chairman of Ride of Pride.
"Our veterans deserve our gratitude and our support. They earned their place of honor."
It's the employees of the truck manufacturer who are associated with Rolling Thunder that forged the link with Ride of Pride.
Keeter's a Vietnam vet, as is his pal George Drexel who accompanied Keeter to Transcal to see the final product. Drexel has a hand in detailing the truck, too.
Ride of Pride is a part of the healing process, he said.
The lucky guy who gets to drive the truck on its celebrated journey is Mike Satterfield. He's a 17-year Freightliner employee and a veteran.
"Oh, it's a thrill," he said. "There's not a truck driver anywhere who wouldn't want this ride."
It takes a team effort to produce the special effects for the truck.
Don Stewart, working with Keeter and Freightliner, sketches the illustrations. Eric Jenkins works out the details and makes them fit the big-bodied cab.
"And I add some stuff, but it fits the theme," Jenkins said.
By the way, Jenkins is a veteran, too. So is Transcal founder and owner Jerry Banks.
"Our veterans deserve recognition. We're proud to be able to do this," he said.
Beau Pennell, another vet, is Transcal's customer service and sale manager.
He's the one who got everybody in one place for the rig's sendoff.
"We work with companies like Seaswirl Boats, Bojangle's and the Carolina Panthers," he said.
"We do digital printing, fleet graphics, wall murals and much more."
The truck graphics are decals, produced on living-room sized printers.
Pennell and Satterfield said decals are better than paint in case the truck gets dinged.
"If anything happens, you don't have to repaint the whole thing and try to match up the colors," Pennell said.
"We can blend a new section of decal with no trouble."
Keeter is retired, but he stays busy with Rolling Thunder and Ride of Pride.
He and Drexel were going to Cargo Transporters of Claremont to attach U.S. flags to complete the truck's look.
Besides, the folks at Cargo Transporters want to see the truck. It will become part of CT's fleet when the tour is over.
"Freightliner donates the graphics, not the truck," Keeter said.
"The names of companies interested in buying the truck go into a hat. We draw the name. This year, it's Cargo Transporters."
And don't expect the new owner to change the look. The first eight Rides of Pride stayed as they were. So will this one.
The imposing eagle will be flying for a long time.
For more information:
www.rollingthunder1.com
www.transcalgraphics.com
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