Photo Courtesy of Henry County Iowa Freedom Rock Facebook Group

The tent is up and the spotlight is on in Winfield as a well-known artist works to create a new piece dedicated to those who have served our country. Since 1999, Ray “Bubba” Sorenson II, has been synonymous with “The Freedom Rock”. The original rock is located in Greenfield, Iowa and the 60-ton boulder is repainted annually by Sorenson with different thank you messages to veterans. The “Freedom Rock Tour” is Sorenson’s trip through the state to paint a rock in all 99 counties. Linda Weir Jacobi has been leading the effort to install a freedom rock in Henry County, and shares with KCII News what it means for Winfield to be chosen as the location  and their hopes for the display. “It’s been very humbling, very honoring to be able to represent our military. The community is very excited about this. The ability to put it right on the main street coming into town is a plus. It will be on a corner on Locust Street across from Pilot Grove Savings Bank. There will be a parking lot there. At this time, there will be two rocks there. One will be the Freedom Rock, the other will have the names of all 13 towns within the county.”

The group has worked since 2019 to solicit donations and operate fundraisers for the project. The rock was delivered to Winfield just before Memorial Day, and Sorenson arrived last week to begin work on creating the unique design. He works enclosed in a tent to minimize visitors and distractions, leading up to a reveal. Once the rock is completed, a sealant will be applied prior to the removal of the tent to allow the art to last. Completion of the artwork and an unveiling are expected this week or next in Winfield.