Freedom Rock: The Story Behind Arizona’s First Tribute Rock

Hey, everybody. Welcome back to Signals AZ. Today we are spotlighting you. So we've got Brian and we've got Lisa and you guys are from Freedom Rock. Tell me what is Freedom Rock?

Well, I think the best way to describe it is it's a project that honors veterans and by the way it honors veterans is that it started in Iowa.

Lisa and I are the two people with actual Iowa roots on the committee. So we're probably more familiar with the original.

We are the artist is on a venture to honor veterans in all 50 states. He's done a hundred of these rocks in Iowa and they're painted with local history of veterans and

Lisa will tell us the story pretty soon about how that all started, but it is something that after he finished Iowa, he started doing some other things with states or in the Midwest and so and somebody suggested that he should do a 50 state tour.

So my wife and I moved here about a year and a half ago and one of the first things we did we moved in late September and on November 11 we went to the veterans parade in Prescott.

And we got in the car afterwards and looked at each other and said this area needs a Freedom Rock because of its honor of veterans, its respect for veterans and I had a friend in Iowa who is a Vietnam veteran and in the latter part of his life, the Freedom Rocks became very important to him.

And they went on a tour he and his wife and saw all 100 of them in Iowa took pictures had photo books made of it and he very much treasured those to the end of his life.

So that's kind of how we got familiar with it. And as my wife and I talked, we decided we had purchased a home in Prescott Valley.

So we wanted to talk to Prescott Valley first. There are a lot of areas around here that could have a Freedom Rock, but we decided that our new home was Prescott Valley so we would offer it.

So now the Freedom Rock we have here is the very first one in Arizona and it has very fitting Arizona history on it and I believe we're around the 11th state to get one.

So how big are these rocks?

This particular one is just a little over 8 feet tall and it's 38,000 pounds.

Wow, okay, I wasn't thinking they were that that's a rock. That's a better.

Yes, we had a crane company come, D&O crane company was just very, very generous with us, but they it required their largest crane to set it in place.

So how do you choose the rock?

That was an adventure.

We started looking around and everything that the contractors and so work with, they try to get like six foot by six foot or less so they can handle them.

And we got in touch with a contractor that was doing a project in Prescott.

And so he knew what we were looking for and one day they he called me and said, we have one you might be interested in.

So we went down and looked and we actually looked up to her three of them that were oversized from what they like and we came across this one.

And it has really been ideal for it had three faces to paint.

And then there was a really jagged edge on the fourth side and that's where the flag drapes down over and it's just amazing.

So like I always say, we looked at a few hundred rocks in the process and we feel like when the artist came, he said, it's a gift from God.

So can't argue with that.

No.

So the first one is in your home and out in front of your home and are the first one in Arizona is in Prescott Valley.

At the civic center.

Okay.

Yes.

I misunderstood because I was thinking, oh, it's okay.

So we can go right down to the civic center and take a look at it.

Between the civic center, a town office building and the police department.

And it is closer to the town office building, but you'll see it.

It's right along the parking lot there where the mailboxes are and it's out there for everybody to see.

It's incredible.

And what is the purpose of the rocket to honor?

Yep.

So the artist, his name is Ray Bubba Sonson.

So we got to know him really well.

We call him Bubba.

His purpose was to promote tourism in the area because as Brian mentioned earlier, people follow all of the hundred in Iowa and now they're going to all the states.

So it's a great tourism draw.

And then second, he wanted to honor and thank veterans.

And his story originates from him being 19 years old, watching, saving private Ryan.

And that movie moved him so much that he knew that there was this big, huge boulder out by a quarry by Greenfield, Iowa.

And it was always graffiti, you know, young people would always, you know, just graffiti, of course.

And he thought that could be my canvas.

I could go out and paint veterans, pictures, a memorial to veterans.

And I grew up by that rock.

And I remember even as a teenager, when we'd be done detastling corn, we would go jump in the quarry, cool off.

And I would see that graffiti and thought, gosh, that's too bad. That's happening.

And I remember in life, I came home from college and my parents said, you got to go see the rock.

And I'm like, oh, what's happening?

And she goes, this Baba Sonson is now painting it every May to depict different veteran stories, even local stories, which is another whole thing about the Iowa rocks.

And I drove out there and I was just, you get teary eyed. It's really a special rock.

It's like the one we have here.

What's really special about the original rock over 170 veterans ashes are in the paint on that rock.

And he does not paint over there in a helicopter. And he does never, he never takes the helicopter off of the rock.

Every year, he gets them sent to him in little different type or, you know, ornate boxes.

And they usually come with a story, like one Vietnam veteran that had passed, he had cancer from Agent Orange.

The parents and the families, the kids, they all write a story when they send those ashes.

We do have some ashes on the rock here in Prescott Valley.

And the way that those ashes started in Iowa, a large group, a large biker group happened to stop by when Baba was painting.

And they asked if they could sprinkle some ashes of their buddies around the rock. And Baba's like, oh, this is windy Iowa. They're going to blow away.

So he said, I will put them in the paint. And it was awesome.

And he just every year now, when he repaints that with different pictures, that is the only one he repaints every year.

But he always adds the ashes.

Isn't that amazing how, how things come about, you know, those guys have to drive and buy and ride and buy, I guess.

So you guys are invited to go to 100 men who care.

And great organization where they find, you know, people that are nonprofits and are just looking for a little bit of help or, you know, able to help carry on the mission.

Why do you guys think you are chosen to be part of that?

I think that partly it isn't anything about us. It has to do with the veterans.

And I believe that one of the things that we've seen is that the community has just really stepped up to support us because this is a funded project by the community.

There is not the land it's on belongs to the town of Prescott Valley.

But everything else is funded by people who care about veterans or our veterans.

And we have been so blessed in that we.

The funds have come in as we need them. We have never been way short or way long on funding.

But it is there's a lot of dollars that go into it.

And there also has been a lot of community support as far as like I mentioned with the crane work.

And this contractor donated this 38,000 pound rock, which is typically around a $4,000 rock.

And we've had contractors that came and removed concrete and a new contractors that came and poured concrete.

And for the most part, they have donated their labor.

And we had concrete donated by CMEX and that sort of thing.

It's just been a very refreshing for us to see the community get excited with us because we started out with five people.

And Lisa and I were the ones who kind of knew what a freedom rock was.

And just to see it expand and explode.

And we have people now that follow us and we have people that come out there.

We're out there on Wednesdays for people to come and see the rock.

And also if they're interested in buying the veteran bricks or the community bricks that.

So it's it's been a really positive experience.

And can I add to with America's 250th birthday this year?

I've been hearing about this.

This is a big deal.

I've been talking about it with the Liberty Bell that just came and all the cool things that are happening in all the communities across America.

I am just excited that we got chosen to be one of the three for the 100 men who care.

Sounds like the other two also are patriotic.

So this is like this.

You couldn't have timed this any better.

That's right.

So absolutely.

Just perfect.

So what is your goal for do we want more rocks in Prescott Valley and Prescott Arizona?

What's the plan?

Well, in Iowa, there's one in every county and they all have local history on them.

And people go around and I believe it's called a passport where they can go and check off the ones they have seen.

And it's just an interesting thing and we would love to see some of the areas around.

I would add that this is it says right on the rock by the painter.

This is the first one in Arizona.

So nobody else can get that.

But to have four or five of them in the area would be awesome because people could go from one to the other and see that happen.

Yeah, because like Tucson, I mean, there's so much history down there with veterans, Phoenix, maybe one over at the VA and Prescott flagstaff this.

And you know, he's he's one person and he has three kids and a wife.

And he's also an Iowa representative.

So he is a busy, busy person, a busy guy.

But when we mentioned the VA over in Prescott, he's like, yeah, have him call me.

That's awesome.

How long does it typically take for him to paint one of the rocks?

He was here for 10 days.

He painted about nine days because he came in late on the first day and put a sealer on it in the dark.

And you know, the thing that we you don't think about is there's so much shading and and all that.

So he had to kind of keep working his way around the rock to let the other side dry while he.

And so, you know, it was a process and then of course, people interrupt you because it's out.

What are you doing in public?

What's going on?

Everybody wants to know what's happening.

Yes.

And it just it was very fascinating.

There's a flag draped over the top.

And it's remarkable.

And it is so many different shades and shadows and and that sort of thing.

It just was remarkable to watch his progress on that.

And then at the at the last day, he took about a half a day to kind of check everything over.

Do any little touch ups that he felt he says, I could be here three months.

He said, I could just keep touching up.

And then he got on a plane and went home and celebrated Halloween with his kids.

So that's one reason he wanted to get home.

That's awesome.

So 100 men who care, but I'm sure you need help in other ways or possible if people want to get involved or make a donation or anything.

How would they get in a whole of you?

Yes, great question.

So we when we a year ago when we jumped on this committee, that was our first goal.

It's like, how do how do we raise funds for this?

Because it does take it does take money.

We are selling veterans bricks where you could honor a special veteran in your life.

Those are $100 for a four by four red brick.

And then we also sell corporate slash business slash family bricks.

And those go for 250.

And we have had such great response from families, businesses.

We've really been impressed with all the generosity.

And then we also take donations.

So when Brian mentioned that on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

That we're always at the rock giving tours and sharing why these veterans got picked for the rock.

Why Baba painted them.

We are just been so impressed.

People stop by.

They're buying bricks.

They're giving donations.

They get a little gift from us.

It's a vinyl.

And by the way.

And I love the fact that you have all of that like I'm having one on the back of their car that talks about Arizona's first freedom rock.

So those are ways people could get involved and just share.

Like we love when people share it with their neighbors or friends.

Share it with everybody, because it is cool that we are the first in Arizona.

So Wednesdays from 10 to 1.

You're at the Civic Center.

I love that you're you love the story so much that you're you're out there every week, sharing it with people.

is Freedom Rock Dash Prescott Valley.

Yesterday, we had 152 followers, so we're excited.

And then we have an email address.

It is Freedom Rock PV at gmail.com.

And all five of us on the committee

watch that like a hawk.

So every day, we'll get back to people

with probably within five minutes.

They're awesome.

That's perfect.

Anything else you want to add

before I sketch you guys out of here?

The only interesting story we had

was that we sent a list of things

for Baba, our painter, to review

and Arizona history.

So he chose maybe half of that list.

And one of the things was the USS Arizona,

which is at the bottom of Pearl Harbor.

Well, one day, a gentleman who was on a

Oh, now the words are going to escape me.

The submarine.

Submarine.

He was a submarineer.

And he came by and he said,

you know, they're making a new USS Arizona submarine

in 2027.

And Baba went back to his hotel room that night

and did some research.

And the next day, he started adding

the future submarine.

And so they're right together

and he put the USS Arizona's.

And so we look at it as the past and the future

for the naval vessels for the Arizona.

Well, I'm looking at the rock.

Some pictures of it.

Of course, you have Pat Tillman on there.

Yes.

I think that was perfect.

I looked because I was like,

it would have been wrong not to.

I would think just because I know him as little

as I do sometimes about certain thing.

I know that should be mentioned.

And then the Navajo code talkers.

Oh, yes.

So smart.

Like perfect.

Yeah, perfect.

When we got the sketches back,

because he gave us those what,

like a few days before he came out here,

we all were ecstatic with the things that he chose.

Now, wish could we wish the rock could have had more,

but you've got to give it attention.

Yeah.

Yeah, you just don't want it to be.

It must be very intentional.

So excellent job.

And you even have it.

Lori Ann, that's awesome.

Yes.

I hope you worry your soldier.

Perfect for our region too,

to pay some homage to those folks.

So thank you guys for everything that you do.

I'm glad you came in,

because I just, I didn't know, you know,

I heard of Freedom Rock.

And I was like, it must be a concert.

It must be something they got going on.

I had no idea, like just the detail and what this,

and then of course I'd heard,

oh, it's something to do with the rock,

and I never, it's right across the street.

I could go there anytime.

Is the time?

Yeah.

I will.

I will make the time to go and see this.

I love the shading, the detail,

the people that were chosen to be, it's perfect.

So continue to do what you guys are doing.

Guys get out to the rock and go see it anytime,

but what a treat to be out there from Wednesday's 10 to 1,

so you can really hear some of the history

and why you guys do what you do.

And if I could share one more thing,

this has been the touching part of being on this committee

with all of our great folks.

The veterans who stopped by and share their stories.

My dad served in Vietnam.

My father-in-law was World War II Navy.

I am just, I am blown away by these stories.

And it's hard for Vietnam veterans to share,

because what happened to him when they came back,

they weren't treated well.

But we have had Vietnam veterans there at the same time,

and they start talking.

And it's just been amazing how it brings community

to be further and better and better.

Yes.

And as we go through the process,

one thing that has really grown into me

is that I hope it's for all the generations

that maybe in the future, schools can

do trips to it and get a history lesson.

And the future generations,

I hope will really benefit from the history that's on the rock.

That would be a great little walking tour

for the Liberty traditionals right down the road.

That would be great for them to show.

And I've been in the high school right across the street.

And we're going to do some, hopefully,

with the funding and everything,

we'll be able to do some plaques that give some

of the history lessons,

but we're also hoping to put some signs up with QR codes

so that the younger generation who doesn't want to stop

and read the can pull up a QR code

and get the same history.

That's awesome.

And we also want to share that our ribbon cutting ceremony

will be June 27th in the morning.

We'll have that more details coming.

And we hope to invite all the people

that have been so generous to us, corporate sponsors,

whoever wants to come and we'll have food trucks.

It's going to be, I think that's going to be

an amazing day and all the veterans who want to come

because we've had a lot of veterans wives

who have ordered bricks without telling their husbands.

And that's just going to be,

I did a brick for my father and my father.

It's going to be neat.

The bricks there by the, on the side of,

by the, where the rock is or.

Yeah.

If you turn that over the,

like I gave it to you.

The bricks, the bricks will be the floor around the rock

and the larger bricks that we consider

to be business bricks, family bricks

that don't necessarily contain veterans' names

and their information.

Those are, we'll be around the outside

and we kind of say that that's the community

surrounding the veterans.

I love that.

So.

Well, I want you to send this to me

so that we can provide a link so everybody can see

the picture of it.

It won't do it justice.

You guys are going to need to go down and see the rock.

Thank you for doing what you're doing.

Good luck at 100 men who care.

I know those fellas take care of everybody

and they do such a good job

and what a, a worthy organization.

So we really appreciate the opportunity.

Yeah, thank you very much.

You're welcome.

Thank you.

We'll see you next time.