A new state law expands the Heroes Way Interstate Exchange program that honors soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since September 11, 2001.
Representative Linda Black of Bonne Terre learned that the family of Staff Sergeant Michael Deason wanted to name a section of road for him. He was killed in Iraq in 2006. The family ran into a problem, however, when it learned the program only extended to Interstate highways. The Representative took up a bill to extend Heroes Way to other highways and lettered routes. That bill passed, was signed by the Governor and became law August 28th.
With that in place, Sergeant Deason will be honored in a ceremony today. A section of Highway 67 at the Desloge exit will be named for him. Representative Black will be among the speakers and will present his family with a framed copy of the bill, signed by Governor Jay Nixon.