“This legislation is more than a simple highway naming. For our U.P. community, it is a profound act of gratitude for a young man who gave everything for our state and our nation,” said Prestin, R-Cedar River. “Specialist David Anthony Wilkey Jr. was a true Yooper through and through – he cherished hunting, fishing, and the natural beauty of our region. This honor would mean the world to his family and his community. It would transform a familiar road into a lasting reminder of David’s selflessness, reminding travelers on US-41 to reflect on the high cost of freedom.”

sorely lacking in many areas of our state, especially here in the Upper Peninsula,” said Prestin, who has served as a volunteer first responder, paramedic, and firefighter for the last 15 years. “There is only so much an ambulance operating at Basic Life Support can do for a patient while on the way to a hospital. I know how frustrating it can be for first responders trained in a higher level of care to know what to do in those situations but are withheld from even administering an I.V. due to state law.”