News : Freedom Rock inspires local vets and the family whose farm it came from

Shellsburg Legion riders celebrated the arrival of the Freedom Rock on Saturday.

The Freedom Rock that arrived at its new home next to the Shellsburg American Legion Hall inspires special memories because of where it has been, and what it will represent.

"It's personal, it's special," said Shellsburg American Legion Rider Dan Harris. "It will honor all of the veterans of Benton County," said Dan's wife, Ramona.

They were among about a dozen members of the Riders who accompanied the rock from just west of Urbana to Shellsburg on Saturday morning. The organization needs to raise approximately $18,000 for the project, which will include lighting, materials, painting and the protective, anti-graffiti coating. Future meetings will include discussions about fundraising, as well as brainstorming sessions as the members discuss specific ideas for what images they want on their rock. Iowa painter Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II is the artist.

Dozens of Freedom Rocks have been set up in many Iowa counties. Each is unique and includes a variety of tributes to those who have served in U.S. military units. A total of 27 Freedom Rocks have been completed; arrangements are in progress for 53 more of Iowa's 99 counties. See the Freedom Rock Virtual Photo Tour HERE.

Tri-State Crane and Rigging of Cedar Rapids donated the equipment use and man-hours toward moving the rock move.

Family memories and a unique, but unsuccessful idea

When rural Shellsburg resident Laurie Ortner saw the rock, she immediately recognized it from her childhood days. "After looking at the first picture, I knew the location it came from," says Ortner. "It was the farm of my grandparents, Lawrence and Phyllis Hess, where my mom and uncles grew up."

Ortner's mom, Teddi Newton, recalls watching her father plow around the rocks on the farm as he planted his crops. "It was a nuisance," she said.

Laurie's cousin, Dawnette Richards, has another memory of that rock and the challenges it presented her Grandpa Hess. "It used to be a hazard in the field," said Richards. "My grandfather and a few friends got an idea to dig a big hole next to it. They tried to use dynamite to blow it into the hole. Well, needless to say, it didn't work. Luckily, Grandpa is still here to celebrate his 93rd birthday today and the rock has survived to honor fellow veterans just like him who fought for the freedom we have today."

The family made the difficult decision to sell that farm to the BECCA group in Urbana when Phyllis had to make trips to Cedar Rapids every other day for dialysis. Driving past the old farm place is still an emotional experience for the family, said Ortner. "The farm had a red house, five buildings, silos, a cattle lot and all of the farmland," she recalls.

Phyllis passed away in 1998; Lawrence celebrated his birthday on April 19, 2015.

"I wish I would've seen this rock going past my house today," Ortner said. "But knowing I can see it every day, just in a different location, puts a smile on my face."

Ortner's mother shares those same feelings."Just knowing that it came from our farm has lots of meaning," says Newton. "My dad turned 93 years old this week and the rock survived to honor vets like him and my brothers," she says.

See more photos of the American Legion Riders escorting the Rock to Shellsburg HERE.