The Pottawattamie County Freedom Rock will be dedicated on the day that officially celebrates Americas freedoms.

The ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Chautauqua Park in Oakland.

The rock is part of a statewide program to place a patriotic rock in each Iowa county. The program was started by artist Ray Bubba Sorensen II of Greenfield, and the original Freedom Rock was placed there. He has now completed 59 Freedom Rocks in Iowa, including those in Cass, Fremont, Mills, Page and Shelby counties, according to a press release from the Oakland Friday Coffee Ladies, who spearheaded efforts to have a Freedom Rock placed in Oakland.

The 82-ton rock was moved from Schildberg Rock Quarry near Macedonia to its new home in Oakland on April 13, 2015, by Scribs Moving and Heavy Hauling of David City, Nebraska. Because of Sorensens schedule, he wasnt able to start painting it until March 8, 2017. He finished painting in 10 days.

The rock which measures 13 feet long, 10 feet wide and 10 feet tall features a huge American flag on top with a bald eagle on one side, the press release stated. The other side features portraits of four deceased veterans with ties to Pottawattamie County:

Frank F. Everest, born in Council Bluffs, served as commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and commander of the Tactical Air Command. He attained the rank of general.

Arnold W. Jacobsen, born in Walnut, served as commanding officer of the Marine Corps Supply Depots during World War II. He attained the rank of major general.

John S. McCain Jr., born in Council Bluffs, served in conflicts from the 1940s through the 1970s, including as the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command. He achieved the rank of admiral in the Navy. McCain was the father of Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

Brent Maher of Honey Creek served as a sergeant with the Iowa Army National Guard. He was deployed to Afghanistan on Aug. 1, 2010 and was killed by an improvised explosive device on April 11, 2011 in eastern Afghanistan.

Chautauqua Park is located at 308 U.S. Highway 6 in Oakland.

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Pott. County Freedom Rock dedication Tuesday - The Daily Nonpareil