LANSING — State Rep. Sheryl Kennedy (D-Davison) introduced House Bill 4081 this week to rename a portion of M-57 in Clio as the “Firefighter Mike Wager Memorial Highway.” Wager, an eight-year veteran of the Clio Area Fire Department, lost his life when his vehicle was struck by an intoxicated driver in July 2016.
“Though his life was cut tragically short, Firefighter Wager’s legacy of selfless service for his community will never be forgotten,” said Kennedy. “His life was defined by a level of courage and sacrifice that we should all aspire to. I hope this highway dedication will inspire others to live a life committed to improving their communities in the same way Firefighter Wager did.”
In addition to fighting fires and responding to emergencies, Wager was also the head of maintenance at Clio Fire Station No. 1 and was considered the go-to person when anything needed to be fixed. Known as “Woogie” by his firefighter brothers and sisters, Clio Area Fire Chief Kerry Paulson expressed his appreciation for the proposed dedication.
“Though nothing can make the Clio firefighter family feel whole again, I believe this dedication will help Woogie’s memory live on in our hearts and help ease the pain,” said Paulson. “It’s good to see that people care about us firefighters, who risk our lives every day for people we don’t even know. This is a fitting tribute to show that Mike was as important to our whole community as he was to each of us.”
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