SPECIALIST 5 MICHAEL MAY AND CORPORAL
CHRIS ESCKELSON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY
House Bill 5120 as reported from Committee
Sponsor: Rep. Edward J. Canfield, D.O.
Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure (Enacted as Public Act 83 of 2018)
Complete to 12-7-17
SUMMARY:
The bill would amend the Michigan Memorial Highway Act to designate the portion of highway M-15 in the city of Vassar as the “Specialist 5 Michael May and Corporal Chris Esckelson Memorial Highway.”
Proposed MCL 250.1015a
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
According to committee testimony, Marine Corporal Christopher E. Esckelson of Vassar was killed during a firefight in Iraq December 28, 2006 after taking a direct hit to his flak jacket. He was serving with the 1st Battalion, 24th Marine regiment. He joined the Marine Corps in October, 2002 after graduating from Vassar High School, where he was a three-sport athlete. He was 22 years old.
Specialist Fifth Class Michael Fredric May was part of an eleven-man Special Forces team conducting a reconnaissance mission inside Cambodia in 1969 when the team was attacked and he was killed. He entered the United States Army in 1967 after attending Western Michigan University for two years. He was an outstanding Vassar High School athlete, excelling in basketball, football, and track. His remains were not recovered. He was 22 years old.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Section 2 of the Michigan Memorial Highway Act indicates that the State Transportation Department shall only provide for the erection of suitable markers indicating the name of the highway “when sufficient private contributions are received to completely cover the cost of erecting and maintaining those markers.” As a result, the bill has no state or local fiscal impact.
POSITIONS:
The Michigan Department of Transportation has no position on the bill. (11-28-17)
Fiscal Analyst: William E. Hamilton
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.