THE FREEDOM ROCK TOUR

The Freedom Rock (established in 1999) is a large (approx. 60+ ton) boulder located in rural Iowa that is repainted every year with a different Thank You for our nations Veterans to honor their service to our country.  The artist, Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II, was inspired by the movie Saving Private Ryan, as well as, wanting to give Veterans a unique recognition on Memorial Day. Sorensen paints The Freedom Rock on his own with the tremendous support of family and friends. Sorensen is not commissioned to paint the rock but is able to do so each year with the generous help of donations and merchandise sales. While painting murals across the country Sorensen had the idea of spreading the message of The Freedom Rock to other small communities across Iowa. The idea in part came from the 99 county tours that both Sen. Grassley and journalist Kyle Munson took part in, and so the Freedom Rock Tour was born. Sorensen has traveled the state of Iowa the past decade or so, to put a (smaller and unique to their area) Freedom Rock in each county. There is now a Freedom Rock in every one of Iowa's 99 counties, including the 100th in Altoona, IA. (Information came from the The Freedom Rock Official Website)

The Freedom Rock® Official Website


The Rural Iowa Annual Mural Painting for our Veterans



Painted by Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II



Thank You Veterans for our Freedom.

This is an outstanding opportunity to explore my home state of Iowa, visit its diverse counties, and pay tribute to the Veterans who have served our country throughout history—past, present, and future. My father served in the U.S. Army Reserves for four years during the 1980s as an E-4 Specialist, and many of my family members have also served in the military. These images represent a selection of the Freedom Rocks I visited in 2025. My objective is to have visited all of them by December 2026. Wish me luck!

Allamakee County Freedom Rock-Waukon

This Freedom Rock displays six Allamakee County Veterans: Hugh Pratt Kidder, Arthur Frederick Brandt, James Bryson Hagen, Roy Martin Vickery, David Wilson Reed & James Isham Gilbert. To learn more about their stories visit: Waukon Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial

Benton County Freedom Rock-Shellsburg

This Freedom Rock displays three Benton County Veterans: Lt. Col. Calvin P. Titus, Everett Longley Warner & Sgt. Mark Ross Reynolds. To learn more about their stories visit: Calvin P. Titus Scales the Tartar Wall during the Boxer Rebellion & Everett Longley Warner & Sgt. Mark Ross Reynolds

Black Hawk County Freedom Rock-Cedar Falls

This Freedom Rock displays some of Black Hawk County Veterans: Waterloo’s Five Sullivan Brothers, Robert Hibbs of Cedar Falls & Taylor Morris of Cedar Falls. To learn a little more about their stories visit: Cedar Falls Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial

Buchanan County Freedom Rock-Independence

This Freedom Rock displays some of Buchanan County Veterans: Capt. D.S. Lee & Admiral Harry E. Yarnell along with a 1944 Case SI tractor. To learn a little more about their stories visit: History of the Buchanan County Freedom Rock

Chickasaw County Freedom Rock-Lawler

The Chickasaw County Freedom Rock features seven Chickasaw County individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Four are namesakes of American Legion/VFW posts: Fae Stine, Paul Johann, Ralph Nicholson and Harold Redman. Also honored are Ralph Thompson, Donald Fisher and Lawrence Fisher. The other side is a remembrance piece, with the focal point being the soldier’s cross and then fading back through the years into the cemetery and sunset. Here you are able to see the portrayal every branch of the military. The skinny side is a representation of the Chickasaw tribe and loosely based on a statue of theirs. To learn a little more about some of their stories I could find visit: GM3c Paul Frederick Johann & Ralph W Nicholson & Harold J Redman

Clayton County Freedom Rock-Guttenburg

The Clayton County Freedom Rock honors Samuel Merrill (1822-1899) who was a Civil War soldier and Governor of Iowa. On the other side, a modern soldier somberly knelt down in honor of all those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice. To learn a little more about Merrill's story visit: Representative Samuel Merrill

Dubuque County Freedom Rock-Epworth

The Dubuque County Freedom Rock features the Governor's Greys, Roman Catholic Chaplain, Lt. Aloysius Schmitt, US Army Combat Engineer Rich Billmeyer, Army nurse Maj. Genevieve Smith & Vietnam Veteran Bob Kluesner. (more pictures to come) To learn more about their stories visit: Epworth Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial

Fayette County Freedom Rock-Fayette

The Fayette County Freedom Rock features Civil War veterans Henry Grannis and Dr. CC Parker & Gov. William Larrabee and U.S. House Speaker David Henderson. To learn more about their stories visit: Iowa Civil War Monuments Fayette County

Howard County Freedom Rock-Cresco

The Howard County Freedom Rock features The Five Admirals: Vice Admiral Frank L. Lowry, Rear Admiral Arthur T. Moen, Rear Admiral George Peckham, Rear Admiral Michael J. Malanaphy, and Rear Admiral Wallis F. Peterson; Ellen Church, a humanitarian, war heroine, aviation pioneer; Edouard Victor Michael Izac, a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. To learn more about their stories visit: Howard County Freedom Rock

Johnson County Freedom Rock-Solon

The Johnson County Freedom Rock features a depiction of Col. Richard Johnson, the county's namesake & a wreath-laying scene at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. To learn more about Johnson and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier visit: Vice President Richard Mentor Johnson & The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Jones County Freedom Rock-Stone City

The Jones County Freedom Rock features from left to right:

• Israel Fisher, Revolutionary War

• Alexander Crawford, War of 1812

• William T. Shaw, Mexican-American War and Civil War

• Arthur McCullough, US Army, World War 1

• Pauline Quigley, US Army Nursing Corp, World War 1

• Gale Edwards, US Army, World War 2

• Charles Ricklefs, US Navy, Korean War

• William Rees, US Marine Corp, Vietnam

• Becky Dirks-Haugsted, US Marine Corp, Desert Shield/Storm

• Craig Amundson, US Army, 9/11

• Terryl Pasker, US Army, Operation Enduring Freedom

Jones County has the unique history of having a veteran from every major US conflict reside from the county. On the other side the rock features the artist Grant Wood and Military Highway 1. (more pictures to come) To learn more about their stories visit: The Unique History Depicted on The Jones County Freedom Rock & Jones County unveils Freedom Rock

Winneshiek County Freedom Rock-Calmar

The Winneshiek County Freedom Rock highlights Winneshiek County's Native American heritage and features Chief Winneshiek of the Winnebago Tribe and the other side is a tribute to those who protect and serve: branches of the military, firefighters, emergency medical providers and law enforcement personnel. To learn more visit: Winneshiek County Freedom Rock