Montgomery County preps for new Freedom Rock

Montgomery County will soon join the ranks of others across the state of Iowa with its very own Freedom Rock.

Earlier this month, the large stone canvas was delivered to Fountain Square Park for painting by Greenfield artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen. Sorensen started the Freedom Rock project in 1999 with the goal of placing a rock in each of Iowa’s 99 counties. The addition of a Freedom Rock in Red Oak will move him one step closer to that goal.

“I just completed the last one for this tour year during November in Franklin County, which made 80 Freedom Rocks total out of the 99. Red Oak was supposed to go in September but they weren’t quite ready yet so hoping we can squeeze them on next year,” Sorensen said.

Every Freedom Rock Sorensen paints is specifically designed for the county it’s placed in. Sorensen described the process he uses for each design.

“I combine my research and the committee research and start sketching until I come up with what I think makes a unique and interesting mural,” said Sorensen.

While he has some ideas, Sorensen said he doesn’t know for sure what will be included in the Montgomery County Freedom Rock design as of yet.

“So much changes as the design goes from paper to mural, so I don’t like stating in advance what will be on it as I don’t actually know for sure yet. We work on each project at the time I am set to be in that area so that we can concentrate on each one equally.”

Sorensen, who earlier this month campaigned and won the seat for Iowa House District 20, said he’s hoping to begin the Montgomery County Freedom Rock project next year, but he has a tight schedule, so it may be up to two years before he can complete the project in Red Oak. Sorensen described the feeling it gave him to enrich Iowa counties with their very own Freedom Rock.

“I’m just so very grateful to live in and enjoy the blessings of our free country and those freedoms come at a sorrowful price. So the feelings I get are gratefulness and sorrow at the loss,” said Sorensen.

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.

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.

To learn more about the Freedom Rock project, visit thefreedomrock.com.