Freedom Rock Installed At Caldwell Park
Bill & Ray’s placed the nearly 12 ton rock at Caldwell Park this past Tuesday. The rock was donated by Ben Shinn Trucking. (submitted photo)
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Nearly a year ago, plans were being put in place to have a ‘Freedom Rock’ placed and painted in Mahaska County.
Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II had a desire to give something back to Veterans on Memorial Day and got the idea of painting the first ‘Freedom Rock’ after watching the movie ‘Saving Private Ryan’. Since that time, back in the late 90’s, an idea to share a rock in each of Iowa’s 99 counties was launched.
In Oskaloosa, the American Legion Auxiliary Oskaloosa has taken up the proverbial torch in order to help bring all of the pieces together.
Bill & Ray’s Towing placed the rock at its new home inside Calwell Park on Tuesday of last week. The 23,620 pound rock, nearly 12 tons, was donated for the project by Ben Shinn of Eddyville.
The rock is now resting on a 10 foot by 10 foot concrete slab which was donated by Skyline Construction and installed by Clay Grace. The concrete has a tan appearance and has been stamped to look like brick.
Kim Dixon with the American Legion Auxiliary in Oskaloosa said that the project is about half way to reaching its financial goal. Additional funds are currently being raised by a quilt raffle, which will be drawn for on Veterans Day 2015. Engraved brick sales for the walkway at the site are also a way the group is helping to raise funds.
If all goes according to plan, “Bubba” will be in Oskaloosa in 2019 to paint the rock.
For more information on the project, or to participate, contact Kim Dixon at 641-673-0220.
