STIRLING, Ont. –For the second year in a row, Wendy Morgan-McBride is planning a Memorial Highway ceremony at the Stirling Truck Show.

Morgan-McBride developed the idea when struggling to find a way to honour her father, a professional truck driver who passed away six years ago.

One of his greatest struggles during a life on the road was finding out about the passing of friends and families while on the road and being unable to attend funeral arrangements. This frequent problem left him feeling unable to find closure, Morgan-McBride said in an interview with Truck News.

“A lot of times my Dad was out on the road and he would miss certain things, deaths being one of those, and he didn’t get to say goodbye because they passed away while he was away,” she recalled. “This is a chance to say a final good-bye, which they may not have gotten to do.”

The ceremony, which will be held at 8 p. m. on Saturday, June 20 is an opportunity for anyone connected to the trucking industry to light a special luminary bag candle and remember their loved ones.

Driver Paul Havery will read a poem called When God Made Truckers. Stan Fergusson of Fergusson Fuels will say a prayer and then a couple of songs will be performed.

Then, candles will be lit to form a ‘Memorial Highway,’ according to Morgan-McBride.

She’ll be selling luminary bags for $6 at the Stirling Truck Show and using the proceeds to help truckers in need, she said. Last year marked the first Memorial Highway ceremony, and Morgan-McBride said it was well-received.

“It makes me proud when I hear that a trucker or family member attended the ceremony and openly admit that it brought them to tears,” she said. “It’s like saying I did well and I’m on the right track. By honouring truckers and their loved ones, I feel I am doing so in a respectful and appropriate way.”

Luminary bags can be pre-ordered by calling Morgan-McBride at 613-394-2741.

They can also be purchased at the show. The event organizers will have a booth on the fairground section of the show.