Council approves VFW relocating Revolutionary, Civil War monuments

COLUMBUS — Monuments currently hidden by shrubs in Columbus should soon be relocated to Veterans Park. 

Columbus Town Council met Thursday night and approved allowing the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9116 to relocate the Revolutionary War and Civil War monuments to Veterans Park, located in downtown Columbus. 

VFW Post 9116 Commander Michael Collins made the request to the town, saying the VFW would like both monuments moved to the white graveled “War Memorial” section of Veterans Park. 

“Currently, the War Memorial section contains five war monuments that are designated for World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War and the Gulf Wars,” Collins said. “Each of the monuments is a mounted granite marble stone, but only the Vietnam War Monument has its war memorial plaque.”

Collins said plaques for the remaining four monuments will be purchased, inscribed and installed as the necessary funds are raised. 

The Revolutionary War Monument is a 1.5-foot high stone with a plaque and is currently located in an area with shrubs along Gibson Street near the corner of Ward Street in Columbus. 

The Civil War Monument is a 4.5-foot high stone with a plaque and is located in the middle of a large shrub area along Gibson Street. 

“The surrounding shrubs have overgrown the monument, making it almost hidden,” Collins said. 

Collins added that there is space to add additional monuments in the war memorial section of Veterans Park. He said the VFW is considering alternative monuments if it is determined necessary to redefine the Gulf Wars differently. 

He said the VFW is considering identifying individual areas as separate conflicts.