Photo credit: Doniphan County Freedom Rock Foundation

 

(KNZA)--A ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony was held Saturday morning in Doniphan County for Kansas’ second Freedom Rock, a hand-painted veterans memorial honoring local service members.

The rock is located at the Leonard L. Clary Community Center in Troy.

Iowa artist Bubba Sorensen created the monument as part of his nationwide Freedom Rock project, which began in 1998.

Among those honored are local Kansas National Guard soldiers Clinton Wisdom and Don Clary, who were killed in Iraq in 2004 while defending a convoy from an insurgent attack. The rock also honors Kyle Jewell, who died while helping others during a medical emergency in St. Joseph.  In addition, it honors Medal of Honor recepient Forest Peden of Wathena. 

The project was about ten years in the making and was completed in roughly nine months with strong community support.

Organizers hope the monument will attract visitors and serve as a gathering place for families, veterans and community organizations for generations to come.