Law Day, observed on May 1 and throughout the month of May, has been an integral aspect of American legal culture since its establishment by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958. The purpose is to commemorate the rule of law in a free society. Eisenhower, a distinguished five-star Army general during World War II, witnessed the consequences when the rule of law disintegrates. Serving as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, he oversaw multinational military operations across land, sea, and air in Europe.