KINGSLEY, Iowa | Artist Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II has begun work on the Plymouth County Freedom Rock in Kingsley.

Sorensen's artwork on the nine-ton boulder, set near the Kingsley Community Center, will pay tribute to all Plymouth County veterans. Its four faces will include depictions of the American flag, an eagle with the words "Plymouth County" and tributes to local veterans and men who died in service.

On the east face, Sorensen is creating likenesses to Pvt. Isaac Gripp and Spc. Chad Groepper, the first and last Plymouth County servicemen who have died.

"I'm not just paying tribute to these two, but rather I'm using them kind of as bookends in which we can include everyone else between these two men," Sorensen said.

The west face will include patches from the National Guard in Le Mars from the Civil War through the War on Terror.

The north face will pay tribute to Jim and John Nicholson, two highly decorated veterans from Struble, Iowa.

Preparation for the painting included acquiring a large rock and transporting it to its spot near the Community Center. In May, new concrete was poured around the rock and will include plaques for each branch of service, as well as benches, flag poles and the Nash Post Veterans Memorial.

The dedication for the Plymouth County Freedom Rock will take place at 5 p.m. June 24 at the community center. The city, which is currently accepting donations, will hold a freewill offering during a street dance that evening. On July 31, proceeds from performances of the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus will go toward the Freedom Rock. The circus will perform at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Sorensen, of Greenfield, Iowa, has been painting the original Freedom Rock near Greenfield for 19 years. This is his fifth year traveling across Iowa on his Freedom Rock Tour.This is the 60th Freedom Rock Sorensen has painted in an Iowa county. He has commitments for 95 of the state's 99 counties.

Upon completion of the Freedom Rock in Kingsley, Sorensen will commence work on the Woodbury County Freedom Rock in Anthon, located at the Anthon Community Center, where officials set the boulder on Thursday. Sorensen's work in Anthon will likely begin at the end of next week and will last seven to 10 days while he stays in Anthon. He will then move on to the Ida County Freedom Rock at Holstein, Iowa.

Link:

Work begins on Plymouth County Freedom Rock - Sioux City Journal