[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 21 (Monday, May 24, 2004)]
[Page 906]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
 Proclamation 7785--National Defense Transportation Day and National 
Transportation Week, 2004

 May 14, 2004

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    Each year, America's transportation system helps many travelers 
reach their destinations and carries more than 16 billion tons of 
freight worth almost $12 trillion. In addition, our transportation 
systems play a critical role in deploying and sustaining our troops and 
their equipment around the world.
    Throughout our history, advances in transportation have been at the 
forefront of progress. Last December, we celebrated the centennial of 
the Wright Brothers' first flight in North Carolina. The pioneering work 
of the Wright Brothers and subsequent improvements in aviation ushered 
in new eras of freedom and captured the imaginations of people around 
the world.
    Today, our Nation proudly continues this tradition of innovation in 
all transportation fields. As we observe National Defense Transportation 
Day and National Transportation Week, we continue to modernize 
transportation, and we honor transportation professionals who help to 
keep our transportation systems secure, efficient, and reliable.
    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), has 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), declared that the 
week during which that Friday falls be designated as ``National 
Transportation Week.''
    Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of 
America, do hereby proclaim Friday, May 21, 2004, as National Defense 
Transportation Day and May 16 through May 22, 2004, as National 
Transportation Week.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day 
of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
eighth.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., May 18, 
2004]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on May 15, and it was published in the Federal Register on May 
19.