(KIWA Staff Photo)Hull, Iowa (Sioux County Radio) — A new monument at Hubbling Park will give generations of Hull residents and visitors a place to reflect on the service and sacrifice of local veterans.
Community members gathered Saturday, September 12th, to dedicate the Veterans Rock, a project led by Wegman-Koele Post 380 of the American Legion with support from local businesses, volunteers, and donors.
State Representative Skyler Wheeler and State Senator Jeff Taylor attended the ceremony. Wheeler said the gathering included reading the names of Hull military members who lost their lives serving the country.
The dedication came the day after the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks and during the nation’s 250th anniversary.
A Community Effort
Wheeler credited the Legion with raising money and securing donations to bring the project together. Businesses contributed labor, equipment, and materials to prepare the site, transport and place the rock, and ready it for painting.
The Hull Area Chamber of Commerce also thanked organizers, volunteers, and sponsors who supported the project.
The rock adds to an existing memorial at Hubbling Park honoring Hull residents who served in the military. Its artwork includes a bald eagle, an American flag, the American Legion emblem, and military figures.
The artist is Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II, who also serves with Wheeler in the Iowa House. Sorensen began painting the original Freedom Rock near Menlo in 1999 and later completed a statewide tour featuring a Freedom Rock in each of Iowa’s 99 counties.
Wheeler noted Hull’s project is called a Veterans Rock, while Sioux County’s official Freedom Rock on the statewide tour is located in Hawarden.
According to Wheeler, Sorensen told him Hull’s rock was among the larger ones he has painted, and residents frequently stopped to watch his progress.
A Message for Future Generations
Wheeler says the monument’s significance extends beyond the dedication ceremony. Legion members wanted to create a lasting expression of their service and love for their country.
He hopes the artwork encourages younger residents to consider the sacrifices that shaped their community.
