National Transportation Week 2002: May 13-17 "Securing Transportation, Securing the Nation" also May 22 National Maritime Day.

Just as the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914 began the events which led to the First World War and is now regarded as the first day of the Twentieth Century, so today Americans realize that September 11th, 2001 marked a turning point in history and may well be regarded as the first day of the Twenty-First Century. On that day everything changed, and one of the greatest changes was that the transportation system of the United States, which had always been considered with pride by all who work in it as a major source of the Nation's peace and prosperity, had been used as a weapon of mass destruction against American citizens and institutions.

It is true that transportation continues to protect the Nation, as it provides tanker support to the jet fighters flying security over our cities and logistic support to the far-flung operations of Enduring Freedom -- transporting fighting forces, supplies, and equipment to Afghanistan, the Philippines, and beyond. It is also true, however, that Americans must now give serious thought to protecting this asset, which so many of us have taken for granted in the past. For that reason, the motto of this year's National Transportation Week and National Defense Transportation Day is "Securing Transportation, Securing the Nation."

Much has already been done. The Department of Transportation has established the Transportation Security Administration, which has taken responsibility for securing the Nation's airports, among many other challenges. The U.S. Force's Commander-in-Chief for Transportation is ensuring the security of everybody and everything moving in the Defense Transportation System. And, throughout the country, individual companies, unions, think tanks, and associations have begun to research, and in some cases have already applied, transportation security solutions.

Much remains to be done, and during National Transportation Week we can encourage our friends, neighbors, and coworkers, and our business, political, and opinion leaders to give their attention to transportation security issues, to think about them and discuss them, and seek ways to provide the maximum security consistent with our freedom as Americans and with the maintenance of the efficiency of a transportation system, which sustains the Nation's economy so effectively. NDTA Chapters can encourage this dialogue by inviting people dealing with transportation security issues to address their meetings, and they can seek ways to inform and educate the public by offering speakers from their own membership to other local groups and schools.

In their activities this week, Chapters should emphasize the importance of personal awareness in combating terrorism. If all Americans pay more attention to what is going on around them in public places and while traveling, everyone's safety will be greatly enhanced. Finally, chapters may also wish to follow the lead of NDTA Headquarters, which in coordination with the U.S. Transportation Command has convened a working group of government and industry leaders to seek the best security solutions. Comparable groups organized by chapters could be effective as clearinghouses for local ideas and issues.

Whatever chapters and individual members elect to do, let us remember that to secure our great Nation, we must secure our transportation system.