Why does the statue at the airport wear a 'cone hat' in GTA 3?

Pretty sure I've seen this cone appear orange as well. This screen shot is taken from the iPad version.

Furthermore, I always wondered what the text underneath is actually referring to. Does a radio station mention this 'event' in 1936?

'For those who fought for freedom. 1936'

Solution 1:

A Rockstar North easter egg, it's a reference to the statue of Duke of Wellington located in Glasgow, Scotland. People often put a traffic cone on the head of the statue for a laugh.

Taken from Wikipedia:

The equestrian Wellington Statue, most often featured with a traffic cone on its head, on Royal Exchange Square in Glasgow, Scotland, is one of the city's most iconic images.