Posted on 02/10/2005 8:25:43 AM PST by texson66
From A Recent Personal eMail:
"I'm told that there is a huge rock near a gravel pit on Hwy.25 inrural Iowa. For generations, kids have painted slogans, names, andobscenities on this rock, changing it's character many times. A few months back, the rock received it's latest paint job,and since then it has been left completely undisturbed.
It's quite an impressive sight."
wow! Nice painting!! Kudos to the kid!
Other than the cammies being green, it's great!........
Nice paint job, young man.
It is an inspiration to anyone who feels the surge of pride when the American Flag is raised, or the National Anthem plays for one of our Olympians on the medal stand.
Every year, for the last five years, a talented artist, Ray (Bubba) Sorensen II, has done a Memorial Day tribute to our servicemen and servicewomen, both past and present, with a stirring tableau painted on a large granite boulder which stands next to Highway 25. The huge granite boulder came out the nearby Schillberg Rock Quarry and it weighs 56 ton (50.8Mg) and is 12 ft (3.7m) high.
"I love my country and I do it out of respect for the veterans. It's my way of thanking those who have protected the freedoms I enjoy today. God bless the USA," says Sorensen.
For years this boulder was known as "the graffiti rock" and was decorated for high school rivalries, love interests, etc. Since the Memorial Day paintings began, the "rock" has remained with the annual tribute intact, until the artist himself paints over it, in preparation for the next year's tribute. The rock has been "defaced" once since Bubba has started this project, causing a local stir. The vandal, got a punch in the face from a Vietnam War veteran for his trouble, and vandalism has never again been a problem.
Sorensen, who is 24 years old and from Greenfield, Iowa, draws a sketch of his idea on paper and then draws the design by free hand onto the rock. This takes him anywhere from one to three weeks to paint. He says he is interested in military history and gets his ideas from books, movies, previous artwork and images by other artists. Bubba has been commissioned to paint a number of public murals including one at the birthplace of Henry A Wallace..
Visitors from every state and many foreign nations have come to view the rock. It was featured last 4th of July on the nationally televised Boston Pops Concert, as well as on many Network news presentations.
If you are anywhere close, you shouldn't miss the opportunity to see what is truly an American treasure.
Thanks for the additional information!
Couldn't get to the picture from your posting, but a google search turned upthis site, which worked.
http://www.ticz.com/homes/users/bob/On-A-Rock/On-A-Rock.htm
The Rock now is lighted with flags.
Thanks for the link, nice pictures!
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