President Eisenhower signed the observance into law in 1957. As outlined in 36 U.S.C. § 120, on National Defense Transportation Day, the president calls upon "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 through appropriate ceremonies. These ceremonies should provide full recognition of the importance of the transportation system of the United States and the maintenance of its facilities in the most modern state of adequacy to serve the needs of the United States in times of peace and in national defense."