Basye to prefile bill to honor fallen soldiers

A state lawmaker plans to prefile a bill memorializing two soldiers killed in Desert Storm.

Rep. Chuck Basye wants to put up two signs along a designated roadway to honor the two fallen soldiers on the Desert Storm War Memorial in the Court House Plaza.

This comes after Boone County commissioners voted to replace the memorial in August, saying the Christian symbol on public property is unconstitutional.

“The sign is an appropriate way to recognize the two young men and also give the family a little bit of comfort that their two boys are being recognized in an appropriate way,” said Basye.

If the bill passes, two signs would be put up along a roadway designating the area as a memorial highway in honor of each of the two fallen soldiers – Patrick Connor and Steven Farnen.

MoDOT has given Basye three choices of where the signs could go. The signs will cost around $1,600 a piece and would be paid for with private donations.

“I’m confident we’ll get some donations. There’s enough people that were upset about this that I’m sure the community will come together and this will happen,” said Basye.

Basye said he’s not filing the bill to send a message. He doesn’t want it to become a political fight and is confident it could pass the house.

“I’m hoping that this won’t be a controversy at all. It will sail right through. Last year they had several of these bills and there was hardly any opposition to it at all,” said Basye.

Basye said the Farnens and Connors were surprised to hear from him but like the idea of the memorial signs.

The current Desert Storm Memorial will be replaced with another minus the Christian fish symbol. There is no word on when that will happen.