In honor of Memorial Day, Greenfield artist and State Representative Ray “Bubba” Sorensen is repainting a 12-foot tall, approximately 60-ton boulder located just south of I-80 off Highway 25. The rock is being painted this year to pay tribute to our military men and women. Sorensen started painting the original Freedom Rock® the first week of May and plans to be finished by Memorial Day 2019.

2019 Freedom Rock (Courtesy Sorensen Studios)

The front feature side of the Freedom Rock® has a soldier’s cross and ribbon stating, “For Those Who Gave All”, with Soldiers, Sailors and Marines through the ages looking on. The south side will honor the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, the east side honors the sailors killed in the turret explosion 30 years ago on the USS Iowa, and above that Tuskegee Airman Robert Williams, who wrote “Red Tails.” The north side features the only Navy Seabee to be awarded the Medal of Honor, Marvin Shields, with the Seabee logo and a ship named for Shields. And local Veteran Rick Schaecher, who flew many missions on T_33s in Vietnam. And of course, Old Glory waving on top in honor of all who serve.

The helicopter remains as the paint that it is comprised of has been mixed with the ashes of our Vietnam Veterans since 2006. Sorensen said: “I’m so glad I am able to paint a sincere Thank You to those who serve our country and those who’ve given their life in that service, with the support of my family. Having enjoyed our country’s freedom and understanding that it comes with a heavy cost, I hope our Veterans know how much we appreciate them…and that it is conveyed in my artwork.”

Sorensen is not commissioned for his work on the original Freedom Rock® in Menlo, Iowa but works as an independent mural artist on the Iowa Freedom Rock® Tour. Sorensen is only able to complete about ten rocks per year, due to scheduling and weather and is currently booked into the 2021 year. The Freedom Rock® Tour is helped by the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation of Iowa Falls, Iowa, who provide the truck and Aluma Trailers of Bancroft, Iowa, who provide the trailer.

For a list of complete counties booked for the Tour and locations of already existing Freedom Rocks®, visit www.thefreedomrock.com. Although it is Sorensen’s 21st annual year of painting the original Freedom Rock®, this is Sorensen’s seventh year on the Freedom Rock® Tour across Iowa. This also marked the third year since Sorensen began the 50 State Freedom Rock® Tour with rocks already painted in Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin. A Freedom Rock® has also been booked for the state of Washington. Sorensen plans to be at The Freedom Rock® over Memorial Day weekend, including Memorial Day to meet with visitors.

Calendars as well as other merchandise are also available to help offset costs for the project. In the fall of 2018, Sorensen was elected to his first term as a State Representative in the Iowa House.