(Greenfield) In 1999, Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II set out to paint “The Freedom Rock,” a 60 ton-plus boulder in Adair County. In 2008, Ray and his wife started a mural painting business and began thinking about painting “Freedom Rocks” in all 99-counties. In 2013 he began his tour, and now the Adair County native has just 12-counties to go. His goal is to finish the tour in 2020.
Ray Sorensen II grew up patriotic. His mother told stories about his uncle, a Vietnam Veteran, and how they weren’t treated very well when they returned home, so he always had a soft spot in his heart for the nation’s veterans. His inspiration for the “Freedom Rock,” spawned after seeing the movie “Saving Private Ryan.”
Sorensen has spent the last several summers traveling to numerous small communities across Iowa. First and foremost his goal was to thank the veterans, promote Iowa tourism, and feed his family. But during his travels he also developed a real appreciation for small-town Iowa.
Sorensen II, who paints the “Freedom Rock” on his own, has garnered tremendous support from his family. He says its’ been great to see all of Iowa, and has oftentimes joked, that “every small community is the same but different”.
Ray Sorensen II was elected to the Iowa Legislature representing House District 20 at the State Capitol from January to sometimes the end of May depending on the circumstances. Ray has 12 counties to go, including Montgomery County in Southwest Iowa.
