GREENFIELD – In honor of Memorial Day, Bubba Sorensen repaints a 12-foot tall, approximately 60-ton boulder to pay tribute to our military men and women.
Sorensen started painting the original Freedom Rock the first week of May and plans to be finished by Memorial Day. This year’s front, highway-facing side of the Freedom Rock is in honor of Desmond Doss and all medics. Desmond, whose story is brought to life by the recent movie “Hacksaw Ridge,” is a Medal of Honor recipient who saved many men during the Battle of Okinawa atop the Maeda Escarpment. Doss was wounded four times in Okinawa before finally being evacuated.
The south side features our War Dogs, or our “Guardians of America.” Dogs from WWI through the Iraq/Afghanistan wars are honored, such as Sgt. Stubby, Smokey, Nemo and Lexi.
The back, east side, will be the American flag flowing down into a piece honoring Bob Ross who is portrayed painting a portrait of himself as a Master Sergeant in the Air Force.
On the north side is the Huey helicopter that is painted with green paint containing the ashes or cremains of our fallen Vietnam veterans. Above that will be a piece honoring Lt. Col. Bruce Crandall and Ed W. “Too Tall” Freeman. Both are Medal of Honor recipients for their actions in the Battle of Ia Drang during the Vietnam War, flying through gunfire numerous times, bringing supplies to a trapped American battalion and flying many wounded soldiers to safety.
Although it is Sorensen’s 19th annual year of painting the original Freedom Rock, this is Sorensen’s fifth year on the Freedom Rock Tour across Iowa. This also marked the first year that Sorensen began the 50 State Freedom Rock Tour, painting rocks in Missouri and Wisconsin.
Sorensen is not commissioned for his work on the original Freedom Rock in Menlo, but works as an independent mural artist for the Iowa Freedom Rock Tour. Sorensen is only able to complete about 10 rocks per year, due to scheduling and weather and is currently booked into the year 2021.
“I always say I have three goals with ‘The Freedom Rock Tour,’ and that is to honor America’s veterans, promote Iowa tourism and provide for my family,” Sorensen said.
The Freedom Rock Tour is sponsored by the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation of Iowa Falls and Aluma Trailers of Bancroft. For a list of complete counties booked for the tour and locations of already existing Freedom Rocks, visit www.thefreedomrock.com.
Sorensen plans to be at The Freedom Rock over Memorial Day weekend, including Memorial Day to meet with visitors. Calendars as well as other merchandise are also available to help offset costs for the project.