Freedom Rock Organization Prepares To Ramp Up Fundraising

The “Freedom Rock’ as seen in 2014. (photo by Shelly Spaur)

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The American Legion Ladies Axillary in Oskaloosa has been working for nearly a year to bring a Freedom Rock to Mahaska County. On Saturday, they met with other community members, service organizations and others to help get everyone up to speed at where the project is and to get them involved.

“We can’t do this by ourselves,” said Kim Dixon, project lead for the Freedom Rock. “There’s too much money to be raised and there’s too much stuff to go into it to try and get it all done just through the Axillary.”

Currently, the Axillary is selling bricks as a fundraiser to go towards the approximately $20,000 needed to complete the project. The Freedom Rock would be located at Caldwell Park, which is just east of Oskaloosa.

Ben Shinn is donating the 15 thousand pound rock for the project. They will even transport the rock to its new home near the upcoming nature learning center at Caldwell Park, near where a house was recently removed. The plan is to have the rock moved to its permanent location within the next few months.

The rock is on the list to be painted by artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II in 2019.

If you would like to learn more, you can contact Dixon at 641-673-0220 or email kjdixon@mahaska.org.