SIKESTON - A dedication ceremony honoring Staff Sgt. Michael L. Deason is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 3, at 4:30 p.m. at the Desloge City Park located at Parkside and Walnut Streets in Desloge, Mo.

Staff Sgt. Michael L. Deason, of the 3^rd Battalion, 320^th Field Artillery Regiment, 3^rd Brigade, 101^st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, Ky., was killed on Aug. 31, 2006, in Ad War, Iraq.

            Anticipated Speakers include:

•·         Ms. Heather Garner on behalf of U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson

•·         Kevin Engler, Missouri Senate, District 3

•·         Linda Black, Missouri House of Representatives, District 107

•·         Ms. Ashley Deason, sister of SSG Michael L. Deason

•·         Mr. Philip Belmont, friend of SSG Michael L. Deason

•·         Reverend Bradley Dush, Libertyville United Methodist Church and Doe Run United Methodist Church

•·         MoDOT Southeast District Engineer Mark Shelton

The Heroes Way Interstate Interchange Program legislation, passed in 2009, allows interstate interchanges to be designated for Missouri residents, who were in the armed forces, and were killed in action on or after Sept. 11, 2001, in either Afghanistan or Iraq. In 2011, Representative Linda Black sponsored legislation, which expands the original law to include state numbered highways.  Signed by Governor Jay Nixon, the law became effective on Aug. 28. 

Deason will be the first soldier honored under the new law, naming the interchange at US 67 at Desloge Drive in Desloge, Mo., the SSG Michael L. Deason interchange.

The public is invited to attend the event.

For more information on the dedication ceremony, please contact MoDOT's Customer Service Center at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636).

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