Rockwell City in Calhoun County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Rockwell City Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial

Calhoun County Freedom Rock

— -- Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II -- —

Rockwell City Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, June 18, 2019

1. Rockwell City Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial

Inscription.

Rockwell City Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial. Calhoun County Freedom Rock. , Calhoun County Freedom Rock Timeline… Story Board Provided in Memory of Lloyd Everett Webb (1941 - 2016) . , April 18, 2013 Application to host the Calhoun County Freedom Rock in Rockwell City submitted by the Rockwell City Chamber and Development along with the $1000 deposit. , April 21, 2013 Sorensen Studios confirms Rockwell City will host the Calhoun County Freedom Rock! , May, 2013 Bill and Janet Anderson of Rockwell City donated the "Rock" to serve as a pallet. They felt privileged to be part of a memorial that will honor all military who have served this country. , June, 2013 Calhoun County Board of Supervisors approve donation of land in the NW corner of the courthouse square to be the home of the Calhoun County Freedom Rock. , September, 2013 Volunteers move the "Rock" from the Anderson's yard to the courthouse square and situate it for settlement during the winter months. , April, 2014 Chamber is notified that the Calhoun County Freedom Rock is on Bubba Sorensen's schedule to be painted in August 2014. Plans for a Veteran Memorial Park are rendered. , July, 2014 The retaining wall around the "Rock" is built. , August 18, 2014 Bubba begins painting the Calhoun County Freedom Rock. , August 22, 2014 The "Rock" is completed by Bubba Sorensen. , June, 2015 Memorial paving stones and benches arrive to be placed around the Freedom Rock Veteran Memorial ark. , November 11, 2015 Veterans Day the Calhoun County Freedom Rock is dedicated by Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds. , Hidden Words…. Can you find? , Bubba hides the names of his wife, and two children in all Freedom Rock paintings. Can you find, Wife Maria, Daughter Indie (short for Independence), and Son Mike. Look hard you might see them in the painting by the helicopters. , About the Artist, Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II , The story of Iowa's Freedom Rocks began in a movie theater in 1999, when Bubba Sorensen, an art and design major at Iowa State University was watching the movie Saving Private Ryan. Viewing the World War II tale of heroism and tragedy made him want to do something to honor veterans himself. He remembered that near his home in southwest Iowa there was a larger boulder that was typically covered with graffiti. Sorensen decided he would paint the rock with a patriotic mural honoring veterans. The local response was immediate and enthusiastic thus dubbed "The Freedom Rock". , Today Sorensen's mural work has become a full-time job, with a goal to have a freedom rock in each of Iowa's 99 counties. A new found love by tourists is to visit all the Freedom Rocks making this an Iowa Treasure Hunt! , Thank you Bubba! , With Much Appreciation , We Thank All Of Calhoun County's Freedom Rock Donors and Volunteers! , It is with Highest Honor We Say Thank You To All Military Who Have Served This Great Nation. God Bless America!. ,

Calhoun County Freedom Rock Timeline…
Story Board Provided in Memory of Lloyd Everett Webb (1941 - 2016)

April 18, 2013 Application to host the Calhoun County Freedom Rock in Rockwell City submitted by the Rockwell City Chamber & Development along with the $1000 deposit.

April 21, 2013 Sorensen Studios confirms Rockwell City will host the Calhoun County Freedom Rock!

May, 2013 Bill & Janet Anderson of Rockwell City donated the "Rock" to serve as a pallet. They felt privileged to be part of a memorial that will honor all military who have served this country.

June, 2013 Calhoun County Board of Supervisors approve donation of land in the NW corner of the courthouse square to be the home of the Calhoun County Freedom Rock.

September, 2013 Volunteers move the "Rock" from the Anderson's yard to the courthouse square and situate it for settlement during the winter months.

April, 2014 Chamber is notified that the Calhoun County Freedom Rock is on Bubba Sorensen's schedule to be painted in August 2014. Plans for a Veteran Memorial Park are rendered.

July, 2014 The retaining wall around the "Rock" is built.

August 18, 2014 Bubba

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begins painting the Calhoun County Freedom Rock.

August 22, 2014 The "Rock" is completed by Bubba Sorensen.

June, 2015 Memorial paving stones and benches arrive to be placed around the Freedom Rock Veteran Memorial ark.

November 11, 2015 Veterans Day the Calhoun County Freedom Rock is dedicated by Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Hidden Words…. Can you find?

Bubba hides the names of his wife, and two children in all Freedom Rock paintings. Can you find, Wife Maria, Daughter Indie (short for Independence), and Son Mike. Look hard you might see them in the painting by the helicopters.

About the Artist, Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II

The story of Iowa's Freedom Rocks began in a movie theater in 1999, when Bubba Sorensen, an art and design major at Iowa State University was watching the movie Saving Private Ryan. Viewing the World War II tale of heroism and tragedy made him want to do something to honor veterans himself. He remembered that near his home in southwest Iowa there was a larger boulder that was typically covered with graffiti. Sorensen decided he would paint the rock with a patriotic mural honoring veterans. The local response was immediate and enthusiastic thus dubbed "The Freedom Rock".

Today Sorensen's mural work has become a full-time

Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, June 18, 2019

2. Rockwell City Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial

job, with a goal to have a freedom rock in each of Iowa's 99 counties. A new found love by tourists is to visit all the Freedom Rocks making this an Iowa Treasure Hunt!

Thank you Bubba!

With Much Appreciation , We Thank All Of
Calhoun County's Freedom Rock Donors & Volunteers!

It is with Highest Honor We Say Thank You
To All Military Who Have Served This Great Nation.
God Bless America!

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, Vietnam • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Freedom Rock Memorials series list.

Location. 42° 23.738′ N, 94° 38.07′ W. Marker is in Rockwell City, Iowa, in Calhoun County. Memorial is at the intersection of Main St and 5th Street on Main St. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 420 Main Street, Rockwell City IA 50579, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 1 other marker is within walking distance of this marker. Rockwell City, Iowa Civil War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker).

Also see . . . The Freedom Rock & Freedom Rock Tour. (Submitted on June 26, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, June 18, 2019

3. Rockwell City Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial

Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, June 18, 2019

4. Rockwell City Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial

Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, June 18, 2019

5. Rockwell City Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial

Credits. This page was last revised on June 26, 2019. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2019, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 214 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 26, 2019, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.