CEDAR FALLS | The Freedom Rock is coming to Black Hawk County and Cedar Falls.

Greenfield artist Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II, who started painting, and repainting, a huge roadside boulder near there with patriotic images annually since 1999, said he's accepted a proposal from Cedar Falls American Legion Post 237 members Sid Morris and Tom Hagarty to locate and paint a Freedom Rock here, possibly late next year at the earliest.

Sorensen has launched a Freedom Rock Tour to locate and paint a rock in each of the state's 99 counties, with local support.

That is being headed up here by Morris and Hagarty, both veterans and former members of the Cedar Falls City Council, who will endeavor to raise about $5,000 to cover Sorensen's expenses for the local project.

"There's a lot of rich veteran history in the county," Sorensen said. "I'm excited to explore the options of what they will want to portray."

Morris and Hagarty said a committee will be formed to propose a number of themes or ideas to Sorensen, who will come up with a final design.

The Freedom Rock near Greenfield, just off the Greenfield-Guthrie Center exit on Interstate 80, took on a Black Hawk County theme in 2012, as Sorensen painted it with images of Waterloo's five Sullivan brothers killed during World War II. It also featured quadruple-amputee sailor Taylor Morris of Cedar Falls, Sid Morris' grandson, disabled in a bomb blast in Afghanistan.

The elder Morris said he's happy the rock is coming to Black Hawk County and Cedar Falls.

"Bubba Sorensen is quite good, and it's been very popular," Morris said. "A large number of counties have applied to be recipients of the rock. I admire his work. It gives us an opportunity to to recognize the veterans who have served in each county, and the value the veterans have given to this state."

In all, Sorensen said 72 of the 99 counties have applied for and been accepted for a Freedom Rock and, of those, he's been able to complete 20 so far. Black Hawk County is among the latest counties to apply and be accepted, Sorensen said. He said applications are accepted on a first come, first served basis, including a down payment for his expenses.

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Freedom Rock coming to Cedar Falls