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Committee advances bill to name US 41 for Specialist David A. Wilkie Jr.
Summary
The committee voted 16-0 to report House Bill 4351, which would designate a portion of US 41 as Specialist David Anthony Wilkie Jr. Memorial Highway; family and a retired soldier testified by Zoom, and MDOT filed a neutral card.
Representative Preston introduced House Bill 4351, asking the Transportation, Mobility and Infrastructure Committee to designate a stretch of US 41 in memory of Specialist David Anthony Wilkie Jr.
Preston said Wilkie was raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, was an outdoorsman and community member, and at 22 answered the call to serve with the First Infantry Division; Preston said Wilkie was killed by an IED in Baghdad on 06/18/2007 and was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Rich Severson, testifying by Zoom and a retired Army servicemember who served near Fallujah, described Wilkie as “just a good young man” and recalled shared outdoor activities. Danielle Wilkie, appearing by Zoom and identified as the soldier’s sister, thanked the committee and described memories of her brother, saying the family would be honored by the naming and that it would publicly recognize his sacrifice.
Representative Brock said he understood the sponsor to indicate signage funding is already secured; the clerk read a card indicating the Michigan Department of Transportation was neutral on both highway-naming bills. Representative Preston moved to report House Bill 4351 with recommendation; the clerk called the roll and the committee approved the motion 16 yeas, 0 nays, reporting the bill out of committee with recommendation.
House Bill 4351 was therefore reported to the next stage of consideration with a favorable committee recommendation.
