City backs proposal to name bridge in honor of veterans

American Legion Post 122 Commander Tom Brown and Legionnaire Roy Jones appeared before the Cairo mayor and council Monday seeking the council’s endorsement of requesting the naming of the bridge Veterans Memorial Bridge.

“This would honor all veterans, past, present and future. We are seeking the city’s endorsement,” Commander Brown said.

Councilman James H. (Jimmy) Douglas asked if the veterans had reached out to State Representative Darlene Taylor and noted that time is running out to get any legislation through the General Assembly during the current session.

Commander Brown said they had not discussed the matter with Rep. Taylor yet, but he said that she was very supportive of local veterans. According to Brown, it was Rep. Taylor who recently, personally purchased flags to replace worn ones that line Broad Street on July 4, Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

“She does a lot that folks don’t know about,” Brown said.

The council voted unanimously to issue a resolution in support of naming the bridge in honor of veterans.

In related business, the council approved Commander Brown’s request to fly flags beneath the United States flag in city cemeteries honoring those missing in action and prisoners of war. Local veterans provided funding to erect flagpoles at Cairo City Cemetery, Greenwood Cemetery and Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Councilman Douglas reminded Commander Brown that the approval to erect the flags was contingent on a flag pole being erected at Crestview Cemetery as well. Brown said that the legion’s budget did not permit that to be done in the current year, but noted that the group’s new budget year begins in June and their plans are to have a fourth flag pole erected later this year at Crestview Cemetery.

The council unanimously approved of the legion adding the additional flags to be flown at city cemeteries.