National Transportation Week Holds New Meaning in 2020
National Transportation Week is this week, May 11-17, 2020, with Friday being National Defense Transportation Day. For the NDTA community, this has always been a time to come together to celebrate the hard work and contributions of those in the transportation industry. This year, the week holds new significance as the COVID-19 pandemic has thrust transportation workers into the spotlight and onto the front lines. Each year, the President of the United States makes a proclamation to designate the week and day, and President Trump’s proclamation reflects the current circumstances:
“To recognize the men and women who work in the transportation industry and who contribute to our Nation’s well-being and defense, the Congress, by joint resolution approved May 16, 1957, as amended (36 U.S.C. 120), designated the third Friday in May of each year as “National Defense Transportation Day,” and, by joint resolution approved May 14, 1962, as amended (36 U.S.C. 133), has declared that the week during which that Friday falls be designated as “National Transportation Week.” In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the dedication and patriotism of our Nation’s transportation workers have never been more evident as they risk their own health to ensure that grocery store shelves stay stocked and healthcare professionals receive essential products and equipment.”
I hope that the heightened appreciation the American public has for our transportation workers is something that continues well after the pandemic ends. And, although we cannot all join together as we usually would, we can honor the professionals who keep our country on the move by giving back to the transportation community this week. We encourage NDTA members to seek opportunities to volunteer/support transportation or disaster-related missions. NDTA Chapters can provide these opportunities to members, as they do each year, by partnering with planned activities or launching their own. We look forward to hearing about your experiences this week.
Thank you to each of you for what you do. NDTA members are the very people who this week is meant to honor. Your hard work and dedication are truly critical to our Nation. Nothing happens until something moves—and nothing moves without you.
By Lt. Col. Donna Johnson, USAF (Ret.), Bus Program Manager, Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO), and Chair, NDTA Chapter Support & Membership Development Committee