Second Freedom Rock in Kansas unveiled in Doniphan County
TROY, Ks. (KQTV) -- Community members gathered in Doniphan County on Saturday to unveil Kansas's second Freedom Rock, a hand-painted veterans memorial honoring local service members.
The monument was created by Iowa artist Bubba Sorensen, who founded the Freedom Rock project in 1998 when he painted over graffiti on a rock in his home state.
When the vandalism stopped, Sorensen recognized the impact of the tribute and expanded the effort, eventually painting Freedom Rocks in all 99 Iowa counties before launching a 50-state tour.
Kansas is now part of that tour.
The Doniphan County rock features the stories of fallen soldiers, current veterans and active-duty service members with ties to the county.
Among those honored are Clinton Lee Wisdom and Don Allen Clary, as well as Kyle Jewell, who died helping others during a medical emergency in Saint Joseph.
Rachel Peden, a Troy native who founded the DC Freedom Rock Foundation, said the project had been in her heart for about ten years after she first learned of Sorensen's mission.
The foundation submitted its application in December, and the rock was completed in roughly nine months, a timeline Peden credited to strong community support.
"It took fundraising, it took a lot of organizing, preparing, lots of reaching out," Peden said. "The heart that's been put into this project has been something that I knew we would be able to get through our community."
Sorensen collected stories submitted by the county and handpicked the elements he felt would best fit the piece and flow with his broader tour, including the Medal of Honor, which Peden said is near and dear to his heart.
The rock had been covered since painting began in late September so the paint could cure.
The protective structure came down just last Thursday, ahead of the dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting.
Peden said she hopes the monument draws tourism to the area and serves as a gathering place for families, veterans and organizations for generations to come.
"Very proud to be able to bring this to our community and to continue on to the veterans from generations to come," she said.
The rock is located at the Leonard L. Clary Community Center in Troy, Kansas.
