Brighton in Washington County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Brighton Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial
Honoring Washington County Veterans
| | Ray Bubba Sorensen II | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2025
1. Brighton Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial (north side)
[north side]
George Washington
United States Flag
Washington County
[west side]
Timothy Brown & Samuel Lewis [Revolutionary War]
[south side]
President Theodore Roosevelt cartoon by Jay N. Ding Darling
Purple Heart Medal
All Gave Some Some Gave All
[east side]
Craig Rich [Vietnam War]
Erected 2018.
Topics and series. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Revolutionary • War, Vietnam. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #01 George Washington, the Former U.S. Presidents: #26 Theodore Roosevelt, the Freedom Rock Memorials, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart series lists.
Location. 41° 10.556′ N, 91° 49.144′ W. Marker is in Brighton, Iowa, in Washington County. It is at the intersection of East Fountain Street (State Highway 1/78) and North Benton Street, on the right when traveling east on East Fountain Street. It is the centerpiece of Washington County Freedom Rock Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 206 East Fountain Street, Brighton IA 52540,
this page online
Regionally, this marker and memorial is in Eastern Iowa. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: This Log Cabin Erected by Alexander Young (approx. 10.3 miles away); Civil War Veterans Memorial (approx. 10.8 miles away); Bicentennial (approx. 10.8 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 10.8 miles away); Blair House (approx. 10.8 miles away); Rock Island Lines (approx. 11 miles away); Jonathan Clark Conger House (approx. 11.1 miles away); First Company of Jefferson County Civil War Volunteers Drill Ground (approx. 13.7 miles away).
Also see . . .
1. About the Washington County Freedom Rock.
Excerpt:(Submitted on January 29, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Front: President George Washington was chosen as the county is named after the first U.S. President and one of America'sfirst veterans.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 20252. Brighton Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial (west side)Timothy Brown & Samuel Lewis [Revolutionary War]
West Side: Revolutionary War soldiers in silhouette represent the Washington County residents who served in the Revolutionary War. Timothy Brown was born on April/May 30, 1762, in New Jersey. He died on January 3, 1852, in Washington County, Iowa. He was originally buried in a pioneer farm cemetery known as Todd Cemetery. In 1903, his gravesite was discovered by the editor of the Washington Democrat. The editor recognized that Brown had been a Revolutionary War soldier, who had served for three years under General Washington. His body was then moved to Soldier Circle in Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington, Iowa, where re-interment services were held on October 19, 1903.
Samuel Lewis was born in 1766 in Ireland or Maryland. He died on December 21, 1851, in Washington County, Iowa, and was buried in Hillcrest Cemetery at Brighton, in south Washington County. The Washington Chapter NSDAR added a boulder on his grave with an inscribed bronze plaque that read, Samuel Lewis, Revolutionary War Soldier 1766-1851. This dedication was performed on June 14, 1957.
South Side: The back of the rock features a likeness of a Ding Darlingcartoon of President Theodore Roosevelt. Darling was a prominent artist and cartoonist, and advocate for promotion and preservation of Iowa's natural resources and beauty. The cartoon was chosen because Roosevelt was also a veteran. Also on the back are two wounded soldiers helping each other to safety alongside the Purple Heart Medal. These images represent and honor all those who were wounded in the line of duty.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 20253. Brighton Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial (south side)
East Side: The east facing side of the Freedom Rock is meant to represent and honor those who served in the Vietnam War. The soldier painted on the rock is a likeness of Sgt. Craig Rich of Brighton. Sgt. Rich was killed in action in 1968 while serving in Vietnam. He was just 21 years old at the time.
2. Remembering Craig Rich - 1946-1968.
Excerpt: Brighton native Craig Rich proudly served in Vietnam but never returned home. In 2018, Rich was memorialized as part of the Washington County Freedom Rock painting. To honor Rich, a wreath was placed in by his brother, Ron Rich, and namesake and nephew Craig Emry, during the Freedom(Submitted on January 29, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)Rock unveiling ceremony. Sgt. Rich was killed in action on August 26, 1968, in Binh Long Province, South Vietnam, at age 21. Sgt. Rich was awarded the Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service and Vietnam Campaign medals.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 20254. Brighton Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial (southeast)
3. The Freedom Rock (facebook).
Thanking our Veterans, one painting at a time.(Submitted on January 29, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2025
5. Brighton Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial (east side)
Sgt. Craig Arthur Rich
[Vietnam War, Killed in Action, Purple Heart Recipient]
[Vietnam War, Killed in Action, Purple Heart Recipient]
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2025
6. Brighton Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial Artist
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2025
7. Washington County Freedom Rock Park
Looking east.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2025
8. Washington County Freedom Rock Park
Looking south from East Fountain Street (Iowa Highway 1/78).
Credits. This page was last revised on January 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 24, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 57 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on January 29, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
