National Defense Transportation Day:

Every year in May, on the third Friday, the National Defense Transportation Day is observed all through the country.

Twitter Hashtags:

#NationalDefenseTransportationDay

#DefenseTransformationDay

Related: Other National Days Celebrated on May:

National Cornelia De Lange Syndrome Awareness Day

National Take Your Parents To The Playground Day

National Bike to Work Day

National Pizza Party Day

Why National Defense Transportation Day?

Transportation and the associated infrastructure contribute a lot to the economy of the United States. There is constant expansion and maintenance required to keep the transportation network at its prime, all the time and hence there is a huge importance placed on transportation in the country. Whether it is the road, rail, water, or the air, transportation has become an integral part of our lives and it is important to recognize the role it plays in connecting us to our livelihoods. The National Defense Transportation Day is observed to pay homage to the transportation industry, which contributes to the US economy and every individual’s life, significantly. It is also a day to remember and honor those who work in the sector constantly keeping it on the run without any glitches.

How can we observe National Defense Transportation Day:

Everyone uses some form of transportation every day to commute between house and work or house and school or for various other purposes. On this day, let us make sure we understand the significance of the transportation we use every day in our lives and honor those who make it easier for us to reach our destinations.

Here are some pointers as to how you can observe this day to make it a memorable occasion for years to come.

1. Spend the day to learn more about transportation and its history. Learn about the various modes of transportation, the infrastructure, the people who are involved in it.
2. There are many experts involved in keeping the transportation industry running seamlessly. There are inventors, engineers, safety personnel, skilled technicians, pilots, etc. whom you can honor on this day.
3. There are many events conducted across the country over the week in celebration of this day and you can be part of these celebrations to contribute.
4. You can also have kids in your family and neighborhood participate in a drawing or poster-making competition recognizing the different forms of transportation and the people involved in it.
5. Share your thoughts and information about transportation over your social media platforms with the hashtag #NationalDefenseTransportationDay.

Interesting facts about National Defense Transportation Day:

On this day, let us get to know more about transportation and how it has evolved in the country over the years.

1834. National Road was the first federally funded road in the country. It was built to connect Pennsylvania and Maryland to the states in the west like Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. The road was built between 1811 and 1834.
1835. The National road stopped at the River Mississippi where goods coming from east were carried through the river to the north and south.
1836. It was in 1869 when the first transcontinental railroad was completed. It happened when the Golden Spike was driven into Utah by a railroad worker. This later joined the Central and Union Pacific railroads.
1837. Another significant achievement came in the form of aviation which began in the 20^th Air travel also opened venues for both cargo and commercial flights. This, along with the ocean freight gave a completely new outlook to the transportation industry.
1838. The maximum number of freight travel happens over trains, with nearly 40% to its credit. The number continues to increase every year.
1839. Despite the availability of different color options, white is the most popular choice for color in a car.
1840. The United States has the largest network of roadways in the world.
1841. The first-ever speeding ticket was issued in the year 1902.
1842. While we have cars, trains, and planes now, our ancestors used animals for their transportation. There is evidence indicating that donkeys and horses were domesticated earlier than 4000BC. The horses were used in Mesopotamia and donkeys were used in Egypt.
1843. There were 8000 cars owned by Americans in the year 1900. Currently, every person above the legal age of driving has more than a car, according to statistics.

History of National Defense Transportation Day:

It was in the year 1957 when President Eisenhower signed the observance of this day into law for the first time. The entire week was later included to celebrate as the National Defense Transportation week by Congress in the year 1962. Every year the United States President signs a proclamation to this effect even now.