Cape Girardeau in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Cape Girardeau Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial

Honoring Cape Girardeau County Veterans

— Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II —

Cape Girardeau Freedom Rock<br>(<i>northwest side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2021

1. Cape Girardeau Freedom Rock
(northwest side)

Maj. Gen. John V. Cox
Vice Adm. Arthur L. Willard

Inscription.
[northwest side]Maj. Gen. John V. Cox
Vice Adm. Arthur L. Willard

[southwest side]Gen. Seth J. McKee
Cpt. Stephen W. Thompson
Gen. Roscoe Robinson Jr.

[south side]PFC. Richard G. Wilson
Congressional Medal of Honor

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Patriots & Patriotism • War, Korean • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Distinguished Service Cross/Navy Cross/Air Force Cross Recipients, the Freedom Rock Memorials, and the Medal of Honor Recipients series lists.

Location. 37° 20.557′ N, 89° 35.379′ W. Marker is in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in Cape Girardeau County. Memorial can be reached from the intersection of North Kingshighway Street (U.S. 61) and County Park Drive, on the right when traveling north. The Freedom Rock is the centerpiece of the Cape Girardeau Veterans Memorial in Cape Girardeau County Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cape Girardeau MO 63701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Pfc. Richard Wilson (here, next to this marker); The History of the 140th Infantry Regiment (a few steps from this

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marker); Cape Girardeau (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); George & Fred Naeter (approx. 2.7 miles away); Old Lorimier Cemetery (approx. 4.4 miles away); H&H Building (approx. 4½ miles away); Marquette Tower (approx. 4½ miles away); Royal N'Orleans (approx. 4½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cape Girardeau.

More about this memorial. This is the second Missouri Freedom Rock.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. The Freedom Rock. Thanking our Veterans, one painting at a time. (Submitted on August 22, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Major General John V. Cox (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

A native of Missouri, he served nearly 33 years as a United States Marine Corps naval aviator before retiring with the rank of Major General. Cox served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War, flying 292 combat missions.

(Submitted on August 22, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Cape Girardeau Freedom Rock<br>(<i>southwest side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2021

2. Cape Girardeau Freedom Rock
(southwest side)

Gen. Seth J. McKee
Cpt. Stephen W. Thompson
Gen. Roscoe Robinson Jr.

3. Vice Admiral Arthur L. Willard (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

U.S. Navy Admiral who served his nation in two wars and was awarded the Navy Cross. He was also awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government and the Order of Leopold by the King of Belgium.

(Submitted on August 22, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

4. General Seth J. McKee (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

U.S. Air Force general who served as Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command/Commander in Chief, Continental Air Defense Command from 1969 to 1973. McKee's military decorations and awards include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters.

(Submitted on August 22, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

5. Captain Stephen W. Thompson (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

An American aviator of World War I. Flying as a gunner on a French aircraft in February 1918, he became the first member of the United States military to shoot down an enemy aircraft.

(Submitted on August 22, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

6. General Roscoe Robinson Jr. (Wikipedia)

Cape Girardeau Freedom Rock<br>(<i>south side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2021

3. Cape Girardeau Freedom Rock
(south side)

PFC. Richard G. Wilson
Congressional Medal of Honor

. Excerpt:

The first African American to become a four-star general in the United States Army. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he attended St. Louis University for only a year and then transferred to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1947. He received the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

(Submitted on August 22, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

7. PFC Richard G. Wilson (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

United States Army soldier and a posthumous recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Korean War. A combat medic, Wilson was awarded the medal for attempting to rescue a wounded soldier at the Battle of Yongju.

(Submitted on August 22, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Cape Girardeau Freedom Rock<br>(<i>southeast side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2021

4. Cape Girardeau Freedom Rock
(southeast side)

Avenue of Flags

Cape Girardeau Freedom Rock<br>(<i>northeast side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2021

5. Cape Girardeau Freedom Rock
(northeast side)

Field of Crosses

Cape Girardeau Freedom Rock<br>(<i>north side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2021

6. Cape Girardeau Freedom Rock
(north side)

USS Missouri

Cape Girardeau Freedom Rock Artist image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2021

7. Cape Girardeau Freedom Rock Artist

Cape Girardeau Freedom Rock image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2021

8. Cape Girardeau Freedom Rock

(Cape Girardeau Veterans Memorial in background)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 21, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 610 times since then and 219 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on August 22, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.