Sanborn, Iowa — Every county in Iowa will eventually have a “Freedom Rock.” O’Brien County’s is being painted in Sanborn.
The artist, Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II started with a boulder near Greenfield, Iowa and has now decided that there should be a Freedom Rock in every county in Iowa, so he’s making that happen. Historical and patriotic scenes are painted on every visible face of each boulder.
We’re told that the painting of O’Brien County’s Freedom Rock should be completed soon. Sorensen says every detail has a history or symbolism. The O’Brien County Freedom Rock is a piece of a 99-county puzzle, and the boulder is also an effort to honor not only the Veterans of O’Brien County, but also all the brave men and women who have fought and are still fighting for freedom.
We talked to one of the people helping with the O’Brien County Freedom Rock, Shannon Rydberg. She tells us what will be on each face of the rock.
She says a while back VanderWerff and Associates and a group of veterans from American Legion Conaway Post #318 got on Sorensen’s Freedom Rock schedule. About that time too, VanderWerff was doing a land auction where they found a large boulder, which was purchased and was transported to Sanborn to become the Freedom Rock. Since then the veterans, Vander Werff, and others who were interested have been fundraising and laying the groundwork for the Freedom Rock, which is located at Highway 18 and Main Street in the park near the veterans’ memorial.
