Here's to another half century on the move.

Greater awareness of and appreciation for the transportation industry has spread since 1957, when the Unit-ed States Congress requested the President proclaim the third Friday in May each year as National Defense Transportation Day. In 1962, the President was requested by Congressional Joint Resolution to proclaim the week in which that Friday falls as National Transportation Week. This year, NDTA commemorated the 50th Anniversary of NTW with the theme, "One Nation on the Move", and several chapters joined in the celebration with unique activities. Some chapter NTW activities have been held for many years, and a few new ones have potential to go on for years to come.

In title 36 of the United States Code, the President urges "the people of the United States, including labor, management, users and investors, in all communities served by the various forms of transportation to observe National Defense Transportation Day by appropriate ceremonies that will give complete recognition to the importance to each community and its people of the transportation system of the United States and the maintenance of the facilities of the system in the most modern state of adequacy to serve the needs of the United States in times of peace and in national defense."

NDIA Chapters marked the anniversary in many ways, beginning with a banquet in Charleston in early May, and capped by the 17th Annual Arizona Frontier (Tucson) Chapter Golf Tournament, and San Antonio Chapter's 5K on May 19th, which is also Armed Forces Day.

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San Antonio split their run proceeds between the chapter scholarship fund and an organization that provides emergency Financial aid and other help for families of deployed service members, and for Wounded Warriors during their recovery and transition.

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"It has been really exciting working with Operation Homefront," said Adam Pincus, chapter fun run coordinator. When we met and discussed how we can generate scholarship funds in a third activity in addition to our annual golf and bowling tournaments, we knew we wanted to tie it in with a contribution to the troops." Operation Homefront also held a parade and a dinner, rounding out a full day of fitness and patriotism. "We're trying something health-conscious and trying to set this up on a yearly basis," Pincus said.

While fun runs are gaining popularity as family-friendly events, golf tournaments remain the top earner for NDTA Chapters, enabling them to assist future logisti-cians in their educational goals. NDIA's Regimental Chapter at Ft. Eustis, Virginia, for example, home to Army transpor-tation education for nearly 70 years, was able to award three $1,000 scholarships in 2011 due to the generous support of golf-enthusiasts and corporate sponsors.

NDTA Houston gets together each year with ocher Lone Star State trans-portation clubs, and this year the chapter played host for the NTW All Clubs Luncheon, which featured the Port of Houston Authority Chairman. NDTA Scott-St. Louis held a luncheon, a career lair, a scholarship awards dinner, and their 17th annual golf tournament all in one week! Civilian and uniformed NDTA members overseas also recognized the week from Okinawa, Japan, to Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany.

Visit the NDTA website for a link to the 2012 NTW Presidential Proclamation, a full listing of this year's events, and plan to attend a local commemora-don next year, as we head into a second half century celebrating the community of transportation professionals who keep our country on the move. DTJ

RELATED ARTICLE: * NTW by the Numbers

* May 16, 1957 - Congress designates the third Friday of May each year as National Defense Transportation Day

* 1962 - Congress includes the whole week within which the Friday falls as National Transportation Week

* 40% of NDTA Chapters' 2012 Golf Tournaments took place during NTW

Jeff Campbell Chapter Liaison