Columbia honors fallen military at Desert Storm memorial

Family, friends and veterans gathered at the Desert Storm memorial in the historic Columbia Cemetery Monday afternoon to pay their respects.

One of the attendees stressed Memorial Day was not about the wars the United States has been in, but the men and women who gave their lives for the freedom residents now have.

The war memorial’s original location was near the Boone County courthouse. Controversy erupted last summer over the ichthus, or Jesus fish, on it. It was later moved to the Columbia Cemetery, costing the taxpayers about $5,000.