A portion of US 77 will be dedicated to Lexington native and Medal of Honor recipient John L. Smith in a ceremony November 13 at the Veteran’s Parkway in Lexington.

The portion of the highway will be from the Canadian River Bridge to Moffat Road. It will be the John L. Smith Medal of Honor Recipient Memorial Highway.

Born in Lexington in 1914, Smith graduated from The University of Oklahoma in May 1936 earning a second lieutenant appointment to the /army Field Artillery through the ROTC program.

He resigned that commission to accept a commission in the United States Marine Corps as a second lieutenant and trained to be an aviator.

During the crucial battle for the Solomons, he led Marine Fighter Squadron 223 (VMF-223) on sorties against the enemy accounting for destroying 83 enemy aircraft.

Smith had 19 personal aerial victory credits.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, Smith earned the Legion of Merit medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross medal, Bronze Star Medal and Distinguished Service Order award.