The Freedom Rock is a large (approx. 60+ ton) boulder located in rural Iowa that is repainted every year with a different Thank You for our nations Veterans to honor their service to our country. The artist, Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II, was inspired by the movie Saving Private Ryan, as well as, wanting to give Veterans a unique recognition on Memorial Day. Sorensen paints The Freedom Rock on his own with the tremendous support of family and friends. Sorensen is not commissioned to paint the rock but is able to do so each year with the generous help of donations. While painting murals across the country Sorensen had the idea of spreading the message of The Freedom Rock to other small communities across Iowa. The idea in part came from the 99 county tours that both Sen. Grassley and journalist Kyle Munson took part in, and so the Freedom Rock Tour was born. For the next few summers Sorensen and his family will travel the state of Iowa to put a (smaller and unique to their area) Freedom Rock in each county. The Freedom Rock Tour, created by the artist of The Freedom Rock, aims to boost tourism and spread the message of thanking our Veterans while providing a unique to their area Freedom Rock for all 99 counties in the great state of Iowa. Sorensen will tour the state for the next few summers completing the murals and providing an instant tourist attraction. Bubba's Three Goals of the Tour 1) Honor America's Veterans 2) Promote Iowa tourism 3) Provide for my family
Vander Werff and Associates, on behalf of the community of Sanborn and O Brien County is spearheading this project locally. Assisting with the project is The Earl T. Conaway Post #318 of the local American Legion. Working together, the application was submitted and has received preliminary approval. Plans call for the rock to be placed in the Sanborn City Park, adjacent to US Highway 18, near the Veterans Memorial. The City Council along with those spearheading the project felt this would be a GREAT location for the rock. US Highway 18 through Sanborn has over 8,000 vehicles traveling it daily. The location in the city park offers easy parking, and easy access to those wishing to photograph or spend time at the rock. Even though it will be several years before the rock is painted, preliminary work has already begun and the rock has been chosen. The site will be prepared for the rock and preliminary landscaping ideas are being considered. If you d like additional information feel free to speak with anyone at the American Legion, Post #318 or Vander Werff and Associates (712-729-3264). Updates will be forthcoming as this exciting project progresses! Counties in Red already have received a rock. Counties in blue are on the schedule.
The 2013 tour began in Pocahontas County (Rolfe) in April and ended in Sac County (Sac City). Sorensen completed ten different rocks in ten Iowa counties over the course of the spring and summer. Counties (and their specific town) included Pocahontas County (Rolfe), Ringgold (Diagonal), Polk County (Bondurant), Shelby County (Earling), Sioux County (Hawarden), Adams County (Corning), Lyon County (George), Appanoose County (Centerville), Dickinson County (Lake Park) and Sac County (Sac City). Sorensen also completed his 15th year on the [original] Freedom Rock, located in Adair County (Menlo) Iowa. Sorensen is anticipating the Tour to take at least 7-10 years for completion, painting approximately 12 rocks per spring/summer. Over half of the counties in Iowa have signed up for a County Freedom Rock with 57 booked counties to date.. Sorensen is currently booking into the 2018 year. The Freedom Rock Tour is sponsored by Valspar Paint, Casey's General Stores, Champion Ford in Carroll, and Aluma Trailers in Bancroft. The Freedom Rock Tour is a statewide project aimed at spreading Iowa Tourism, all the while supporting our nation's Veterans. The project is a "for hire" basis as Sorensen is a full time mural artist. Sorensen is not funded by the State of Iowa or any employer. This project began after Sorensen received many requests for his artistic services and the artist thought it would be a "unique way to honor our state [of Iowa]." Sorensen charges $5,000 for each rock he paints on a first come, first served basis, with one freedom rock only painted in each county. The first community to request a Sorensen rock and pay $1,000 down is granted the right to be the site for the rock. He estimates a two-week window to paint each rock and plans on doing about 12 per year until all 99 Iowa counties have a rock. "I've always loved living and growing up in Iowa, which is why I have never (permanently) moved out of the state. However, we're not exactly known for our arts and culture here but yet we have a ton of talented artists and I just wanted to try and help support that idea with some unique artwork while making sure our military men and women are never forgotten. I'm very thankful for the amount of support we have received from everyone and I'm excited to complete this project." Each county's rock represents its area's unique war hero and/or story with Sorensen's creative touch added to it. The [original] Freedom Rock will always be a donated project completed by Sorensen, every year for Memorial Day. For a list of complete counties and more information about the Iowa Freedom Rock Tour, please visit www.thefreedomrock.com.
Donations to help fund this wonderful project can be dropped off at: Iowa State Bank (Sanborn location) Sanborn Savings Bank or Vander Werff & Associates If you d like to mail a donation, it can be sent to: Conaway Post #318 C/O Ray Schnurr PO Box 16 Sanborn, Iowa 51248
Rock Cost: -Locating and purchasing the rock -Moving the rock to its new location -Landscaping