Decade of thanks: Freedom Rock dedication to celebrate 10 years of patriotic murals

CNA photo by ANDY GOODELL Unfinished business: Although the front portion of the Freedom Rock sits nearly complete Tuesday morning, Bubba Sorensen has his work cut out for him. Portrayed here are soldiers from every major American conflict from the Revolutionary War through the Iraq War. ÒIÕll have one of the guys kind of looking back up through the ages for advice, looking to their brothers who have fought in the past,Ó Sorensen said.

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He never thought it would come to this. When Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II painted the first Freedom Rock mural in 1999 he thought it would be a one-time thing. “The very first time I was painting it, I was sure it was going to get painted over and I figured it would be forgotten within a few weeks,” he said Tuesday while working on the rock’s 10th-annual mural. Sorensen also didn’t expect to learn so much from the sizable boulder that requires him to use a ladder to finish each May. When comparing his first patriotic mural to ones completed in recent years, he said the artistic skill involved has been amped up. After painting the rock for an entire decade, Sorensen, now 28, said he has a feel for its every contour. Sorenesn’s gotten to the point where he can sketch out a mural design without even seeing pictures of the rock. “That first time I painted the rock, that was my first mural ever,” he said while explaining his level of inexperience at the time. “Just being out here and being hands-on and teaching myself, I’ve learned quite a bit as an artist. I’ve learned what my limits are painting on a large rock with just house paint.” Celebration At 1 p.m. May 25, a dedication ceremony will be held at the Freedom Rock. Sorensen, as well as military personnel and political leaders will speak at the dedication. The ceremony will also include members of the Patriot Guard Riders, a patriotic motorcycle club. They will escort Sorensen back to Greenfield. After the program at the rock, Bubba will head over to the E.E. Warren Opera House on the Greenfield Square, where he’ll have original art on display. Food vendors and children’s games will also be available. In the face of all this, Sorensen expressed a good amount of humility. “A few months ago, I told my wife Maria ‘this will be 10 years that I’ve painted it and we should go out to dinner,’” he said. “And now it’s all this. Just a fun little Sunday, I hope.” Even though Sorensen started working on this year’s mural in April, starting earlier than other years hasn’t proven to be too helpful considering recent bouts of rain, he said. “I’m feeling a lot more pressure,” Sorensen said with a sigh. “This year there’s going to be possibly thousands of people, and they’re going to want to see a finished product.” Thankful This year’s Freedom Rock includes a quote from an anonymous letter sent to a Revolutionary War-era newspaper, soldiers from every major American conflict, as well as entire sides dedicated to Vietnam veterans, medal of honor recipients from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and injured soldiers. “The Vietnam guys are in tears, shaky and it affects them a lot more because they really didn’t get the parades and thank yous,” explained Sorensen. “That’s why I like to be able to do this for the Vietnam guys. They deserve it.” Ginny Kuhfus, director of Greenfield Chamber of Commerce, said the Freedom Rock has therapeutic qualities for veterans, especially those who served in the Vietnam War. “This rock is just part of their healing process,” she said compassionately. As long as he can afford to invest his time in the Freedom Rock year, Sorensen promised he’ll continue to do a new mural every year. “I tried to give it up after five years,” he said. “Because of the support of local veterans and veterans across the country, I just continued to do it. It’s my way of serving the country, of saying ‘thank you.’” —————— Andy Goodell can be reached at (641) 782-2141 ext. 242 or agoodell@crestonnews.com