Mysterious veteran-themed art appearing on rocks across Iowa? We found the who, what, and why.

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Have you seen a massive rock painted with a Veteran theme in Iowa? How about two of them? How about more? Is there something bigger behind the trend? It turns out, the Iowa artist started the project when he was 19 to honor veterans. Now every county in Iowa has one thanks to Ray “Bubba” Sorensen.

Sorensen shares the powerful story behind his Freedom Rock Tour—99 hand-painted tributes to veterans across Iowa. Inspired by a film depicting the horrors of war, Sorensen’s mission grew from a single heartfelt mural into a nationwide movement honoring American heroes through art and storytelling.

Sorensen is the muralist known for the Freedom Rock Tour—a series of vivid, hand-painted boulders dedicated to U.S. veterans in each of Iowa’s 99 counties. What started as a solitary thank-you inspired by Saving Private Ryan has grown into a profound storytelling effort across the state and beyond.

The original Freedom Rock, once a graffiti-covered boulder, now stands as a rotating mural repainted annually for Memorial Day. Sorensen’s murals aren’t static tributes; they are deeply researched narratives tailored to each community. “It’s not just one mural as one rock. It’s a patchwork of murals… If you didn’t see the Marines on this one, you’ll see ’em on the next one,” Sorensen explains.

Creating Memorials That Tell Personal Stories

Working with towns, veterans’ groups, and families, Sorensen often has to convince communities to focus on individual stories rather than broad symbolism. “There are a bunch of memorials out there that have all six branches… doesn’t tell a story, and nobody visits them,” he notes. His goal: create murals that pull people in and connect them with local veteran history.

Beyond artwork, Sorensen takes on the role of researcher and advocate. Before painting, he investigates the community’s military past and gently urges residents to celebrate specific individuals. “Let’s tell this story to then kind of umbrella… give you guys the credit,” he says.

Stories That Resonate with Grief and Honor

One of the most poignant moments Sorensen recalls is when a couple visited one of his murals immediately after their son’s funeral. “We just drove from our son’s funeral and we wanted to come see the rock,” they told him. The exchange reaffirmed the emotional depth and healing power of his work.

Sorensen also shares how ashes from over 170 Vietnam veterans are mixed into the green paint of the original Freedom Rock’s helicopter mural. “Dump ’em into my green paint… They’ll be here forever,” he recounts. The ritual adds a sacred element to his already powerful artwork.

Tourism, Technology, and a National Expansion

Beyond remembrance, the rocks have become tourist magnets, drawing visitors into small Iowa towns. Some even carry printed checklists to track their visits—an effort Sorensen sees as a win for both local pride and statewide tourism.

Now expanding into other states, Sorensen is taking the Freedom Rock vision national. Communities across the U.S. are beginning to request their own rocks. “My goal is at least one in every state, but I’m very willing to paint more than one,” he says.

Freedom Rocks: Honoring Veterans, One Story at a Time

Iowa’s Painted Legacy: How Sorensen Turned Art Into a Veteran’s Tribute

“I walked outta the theater and I was like, I have to say thank you to our veterans somehow.”
— Ray “Bubba” Sorensen

“Dump ’em into my green paint… They’ll be here forever.”
— Ray “Bubba” Sorensen

“We just drove from our son’s funeral and we wanted to come see the rock.”
— A couple visiting Sorensen’s mural

To learn more or support the Freedom Rock Foundation, visit freedomrock.foundation.