Boone County leaders unveil new war memorial at courthouse

A new war memorial has been placed at the Boone County Courthouse Plaza in Columbia.

The memorial recognizes veterans who served during the Cold War, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Desert Shield, and the Global War on Terrorism. It also recognizes veterans who were Boone County residents and died as a result of enemy action.

A date and time for dedicating the memorial have not been set yet.

The memorial replaces the former Desert Storm Memorial at the plaza, which has been moved to Columbia Cemetery, where it is now displayed on a private plot.

The old memorial became the subject of controversy because of a religious symbol on it. The symbol is an ichthys, often associated with Christianity. In 2014, a group advocating the separation of church and state called on the county commission to cover or remove the symbol. In a controversial vote, the commission agreed to cover the symbol.

The old memorial includes an ichthys as part of the monument in its new location.