CAIRO — The Cairo City Council approved two requests made by the American Legion.

Tom Brown, commander of Cairo’s Legion Post No. 122, appeared before the council to request an endorsement that the 5th Street SE flyover bridge between 1st and 2nd Avenues NE be renamed “Veterans Memorial Bridge.”

“We feel like that with that, it would honor all veterans,” Brown said. “Those serving now, those serving in the future and those who served in the past.”

Though unsure at this point of how exactly the renaming process works, Brown said the bridge is located on a state-owned highway, and any attempts to rename it would likely require a resolution from the state legislature. The post commander said Monday night’s request was just the first step in building support for the name change.

Council members passed unanimously a resolution supporting the effort.

While specifying that he has not yet spoken with state Representative Darlene Taylor, Brown said she has been supportive in the past of similar veteran-related efforts.

“She’s very close to us,” Brown said. “She’s done an awful lot.”

A second request was made by the Legion that POW/MIA flags be permanently placed at three city cemeteries below existing American flags.

The new flags, which would be smaller than the existing American flags, would honor soldiers who never returned from the combat zone — an act Brown said Legion members believe would be noble.

“The public doesn’t realize everybody hasn’t come home,” Brown said, adding that he believes this view is widely shared by the 15 million American Legion members across the country.

Brown said the flags will be maintained by the Legion and would be of no expense to the city.

Council approved the request unanimously.