Pictured: Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II adds detail to Glidden’s Liberty Rock. He is expected to finish the piece in the next 7-10 days.
The 100-ton boulder that has been sitting just north of U.S. Highway 30 in Glidden since last summer is taking shape as the community’s new Liberty Rock. The artist, Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II of Greenfield, started painting the massive stone last week. This piece prominently features a waving American flag and the community’s ties to military service. Sorensen, who is known for painting Freedom Rocks in each of Iowa’s 99 counties and artwork recognizing veterans, researches each project before he starts and says Glidden has made some remarkable contributions to U.S. history.
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Ralph Neppel was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1945 by President Truman after repelling a German counterattack near the end of World War II. According to his official citation, Neppel was wounded after a high-velocity tank round severed his leg below the knee but fought on despite his injuries. The Liberty Rock also features Donald Sparks, a Glidden native who was captured during the Vietnam War and did not return home. Stories of patriotism and valor are common in many of the small communities Sorensen works in, and he says that really highlights the spirit of rural Iowa.
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Sorensen has painted well over 100 patriotically themed boulders throughout the Midwest, including the Freedom Rocks here in the region. Each one has its own unique story, but he says Glidden’s Liberty Rock stands out from his other projects.
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Unlike many other artists, Sorensen’s canvases are primarily granite or similar materials, which provides for some unique challenges.
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The City of Glidden is still accepting donations for the Liberty Rock, and those can be dropped off at city hall or called in at 712-659-3010. That money will be used to pay for landscaping near the boulder and to shelter it against the elements if enough is raised. Sorensen says it is hard to put an exact timeline on when he will be finished but estimates it will likely be in the next seven to 10 days. More information about Sorensen and his other work can be found included below.
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https://www.thefreedomrock.com/