The organizers of the Centralia Lighted Tractor Parade, which is set for this Saturday night, have announced local boy Roman Wagner will serve as grand marshal.
Wagner, 6, has been battling leukemia since being diagnosed in 2024. He is the son of Dr. Peter Wagner and Abbey Wagner.
“This year, we are thrilled to announce that Roman Wagner will be our grand marshal,” organizers wrote on social media. “Last year, Roman got to watch the parade from the edge of the parade route in his family’s car, and after all he has fought this past year, we could not think of a better way to celebrate him than to have him serve as our grand marshal! We are excited that his family will accompany him. They are riding in the MRAP vehicle being entered in the parade by the Centralia Police Department, a choice which Roman was very excited to make!”
From Roman’s Parents, Abbey and Peter Wagner:
"Roman Wagner is a fun-loving 6-year-old kindergartener from Lewis County who has big plans for the future. Depending on the day, he might tell you he’s going to be an ice cream man, a pizza maker or a zookeeper, and honestly, he’d probably be great at all three. When he’s not busy dreaming up his next adventure, Roman likes to ‘farm in his spare time,’ and he can never pick just one favorite color … so he goes with red, blue and orange.
“Roman is always smiling, and his mom calls him her little ‘joy joy’ because he brings sunshine wherever he goes. He loves playing soccer and basketball, building epic worlds in Minecraft, and talking about tractors, harvesting and anything farm related. His favorite superheroes are Iron Man and Spider-Man, classic choices for a kid with a big heart and brave spirit.
“Roman is surrounded by an incredible team of supporters: his two brothers, his sister, his mom and dad, all his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and so many friends. He was diagnosed with B-cell ALL in October 2024 and takes daily chemo, tackling it all with courage far beyond his years. His treatment is expected to continue until early 2027, and he’s meeting every step with strength, silliness, and a whole lot of grit.”
Wagner was honored earlier this year through the Centralia Police Department’s Chief for a Day program.
The Lighted Tractor Parade begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, in downtown Centralia.
Learn more on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CentraliaLightedTractorParade.
