Conrad in Grundy County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Conrad Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial
Grundy County
— Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II —
Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, June 21, 2020
1. Conrad Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial (South Side)
Welcome to Grundy County
And the
Black Dirt Capital of the World
[Four young men and women walking right off the farm straight into the war effort.]
(North Side)
[The B-29 bomber "The City of Grundy Center"]
(North East Side)
[Eagle clutching the triangle like logo of the 40 & 8]
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Freedom Rock Memorials series list.
Location. 42° 13.549′ N, 92° 52.436′ W. Marker is in Conrad, Iowa, in Grundy County. Memorial is on Grundy Avenue west of North Church Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 102 E Grundy Ave, Conrad IA 50621, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Gladbrook Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial (approx. 9.1 miles away); Tama County Iowa Veterans Memorial (approx. 9.1 miles away); Henry Anson
this page online
Regarding Conrad Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial.
The front (road facing) side of this rock ties into the Black Dirt and huge Ag community that Grundy County is so proud of. I portrayed WWII era soldiers, WAAC and a "Rosie the Riveter" type walking out of a cornfield as many of the young men and women in that time were taken off the family farm to help in the war effort...so it's as if they're walking out of their fields straight into their various roles in the service.
The backside of this rock features the B-29 bomber "The City of Grundy Center". It was tradition for pilots to name their planes and Lt. Harold Leffler decided to name his plane after his home town of Grundy Center, Iowa. One of the unique things about this bomber is the ground crew painted white wall tires on it so it could be easily spotted on its return from a mission. Leffler and his crew survived 35 combat missions much of which were over Japan.
The northeast side of the rock portrays an eagle clutching the triangle like logo of the 40 & 8. The 40 & 8 is an organization also known as "La Société" that started when members of the American Legion, who were veterans of World War I, came together and founded
Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, June 21, 2020
2. Conrad Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial (North Side)
Also see . . . Grundy County’s Freedom Rock Memorial dedication article. (Submitted on March 4, 2021, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota.)
Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, June 21, 2020
3. Conrad Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial (North East Side)
Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, June 21, 2020
4. Conrad Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial
Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, June 21, 2020
5. Conrad Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial Artist's Signature
Credits. This page was last revised on March 4, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 4, 2021, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 232 times since then and 101 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 4, 2021, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
