50th Anniversary of the Interstate Celebration and Cross-Country Convoy to Launch Friday

--California Department of Transportation:

          
WHAT:   50th Anniversary of the interstate convoy kickoff celebration 
        to commemorate President Dwight D. Eisenhower's signing of the
        Federal-Aid Highway Act in June 1956 that established a 
        "National System of Interstate Highways." 

        The convoy from San Francisco to Washington D.C. is a reverse-
        trip re-enactment of the 1919 cross-country military trek in 
        which Eisenhower participated and was the impetus for his 
        vision of an interstate system. The convoy is comprised of 
        buses, big rigs, motor coaches and vintage and modern 
        vehicles.  A representative from the Lincoln Highway 
        Association, which sponsored and led the 1919 Convoy and 
        presented medals to the 300 soldiers, will be on hand to once 
        again present medals to convoy participants similar to the 
        originals. 

WHEN:   June 16, 2006, 7:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. 
        Interviews available beginning at 7 a.m. Convoy launches at 
        9 a.m. sharp.

WHERE:  Lincoln Park, San Francisco, adjacent to the Palace of the 
        Legion of Honor, 34th Avenue & Clement Street

WHO:    Norman Y. Mineta, Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation
        Merrill Eisenhower Atwater, Great-grandson of President 
        Dwight D. Eisenhower
        Andrew Firestone, Great-grandson of Harvey Firestone, 
        founder of Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.
        Sunne Wright McPeak, Secretary of the California Business, 
        Transportation and Housing Agency
        Will Kempton, Director, California Department of 
        Transportation
        Mike Brown, Commissioner, California Highway Patrol
        John Horsley, Executive Director, American Association of 
        State Highway and Transportation Officials
        Colonel David McClean, Commander, 834th Transportation 
        Battalion, Concord, CA