By Jennifer Carrico, DTN Senior Livestock Editor And Gregg Hillyer, Progressive Farmer Editor In Chief Emeritus

REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- Ray "Bubba" Sorensen has never been in combat, never served in the military for that matter. But after seeing the 1998 World War II motion picture "Saving Private Ryan", the film left a lasting impression. And it inspired a mission that would shape his life.

"I walked away from the movie -- very shook in a sense -- of understanding what the price of freedom is," Sorensen recalled. "Ultimately, all these men and women that stand at the ready to defend our country, not only in WWII, but throughout our history starting with the Revolutionary War. The gravity of it all came weighing down on me. I wanted to do something. I wanted to say thank you."

His thank you was to create the Freedom Rock, a patriotic-themed mural painted on a large boulder.

IDEA TO REALITY

The Adair County native grew up in the rolling hills of southwest Iowa near Greenfield. Rock quarries are scattered throughout this part of the state, located among contoured rows of corn and soybeans wrapped around terraced fields.

From this backdrop, Sorensen's idea for the Freedom Rock began to take shape. The Iowa State University art major said he was always fascinated with mural paintings. But what canvas could he use that had the scale to attract attention and be readily accessible for viewing?

Sorensen recalled seeing a large graffiti-covered rock at a nearby quarry. He called the owner, explained his plan and they agreed to let him paint. "That sort of kicked off the entire thing," explained Sorensen.

He readily admitted he didn't know what he was doing as he applied paint to the 60-plus ton granite slab. "It was just me kind of teaching myself how to paint a mural," noted Sorensen. Finishing in time for Memorial Day, the mural depicted the Marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima and big, bold red letters that said, Thank you veterans for our freedom.

Service members -- past and present -- loved it. But the mural didn't last long. A few months later, the rock was once again plastered with graffiti.

The following year as Memorial Day approached, local veterans had one question for Sorensen: Are you going to paint the rock again ... and with the same mural?

"I thought about it and decided if I'm going to paint it again, I was going to change the mural," recalled Sorensen. "And that kind of gave birth to me changing the mural on the Freedom Rock every year prior to Memorial Day."

SECOND THOUGHTS

Sorensen originally planned to stop after five years. "The mural takes a lot out of me," he pointed out. "I'm out there from sunup to sundown creating a mural on a 12-foot-tall boulder in the middle of nowhere. I was ready to let the Freedom Rock go back to being just a rock."

Fate, however, had other plans. Sorensen began receiving calls from veterans urging him not to quit. One call, in particular, stuck with him. Veterans from an American Legion post in Colorado gave him several reasons to continue, explaining that many of them traveled to Iowa each year to see the new Freedom Rock mural. Their encouragement persuaded Sorensen to keep painting.

"After that call, I made a promise to them that as long as I'm able and can afford to do it, I will continue to paint the Freedom Rock for them, the veterans," he said.

Twenty-eight years later, Sorensen has painted a Freedom Rock in all 99 counties in Iowa, while continuing to redo the original Freedom Rock. In addition, his work has expanded to 11 states, with projects in six other states pending.

HELPING HANDS

Sorensen formed the Freedom Rock Foundation to help communities maintain, fix and improve the landscaping around the rocks across the state and country. It also helps offset the cost of his time and supplies.

As he paints, Sorensen said it's common for people to stop to watch. On one occasion, John Porter, a Vietnam veteran and local semi-truck driver, pulled his rig to the side of the highway where Sorensen was working.

"I didn't know if he was coming to kick my butt or shake my hand," joked Sorensen. Porter liked his work and visited the site often. Eventually, he became the unofficial Sergeant of Arms for Freedom Rock, protecting it from vandalism and performing other duties.

As word spread about Sorensen's work, veterans from across the country made the trek to see Freedom Rock. In 2006, a group of bikers who had served in Vietnam stopped. Sorensen just happened to be painting a mural honoring Vietnam veterans. They were on their way to Washington, D.C., to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and were carrying ashes of their military brothers. They asked to scatter the ashes around the Freedom Rock. Instead, Sorensen suggested they sprinkle them in the paint so they would become part of the mural.

Since then, Sorensen has received ashes of some 170 veterans with requests to paint the ashes into the rock. Every Memorial Day at 1 p.m. Sorensen, along with the help of Porter, holds a ceremony. Porter announced the names of the veterans as the ashes are dispensed into the paint to become a part of Freedom Rock. (Porter continued the tradition until his death in 2025).

"Whether you're a veteran or not, most of us have some sort of connection to the military," noted Sorensen. "I like illustrating the actual faces of veterans so that their story stays alive. I don't want them to be just another etched name that's forgotten. I want people to see them."

WHAT'S NEXT?

The popularity of Sorensen's work has allowed him to turn mural painting into a full-time business, when he's not fulfilling his duties as a state legislator. Communities commission him to paint murals of many different subjects across the country.

He has started a second Freedom Rock Tour to help reach his goal of painting a Freedom Rock in all 50 states. In addition, he has secured financial commitments for a Medal of Honor Murals project. He plans to paint murals on large concrete panels, initially recognizing 60 recipients with ties to Iowa, and hopefully expand the effort to other states.

Freedom Rock has turned into a family affair. His wife, Maria, handles all the requests, logistics and paperwork. Daughter Indie -- who shares her father's artistic talents -- and son Michael both help paint, while toddler Liberty plays nearby.

"Maybe one day they will take over and I'll be able to sit in a lawn chair and tell them they missed a spot," he said with a laugh.

For more information: https://www.thefreedomrock.com/…; https://mohmurals.com/… https://bubbapaints.art/…

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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