One Iowa post to make Veterans Memorial rock

One Iowa post to make Veterans Memorial rock

Artist's rendering of Veterans Memorial Plaza courtesy of Post 273 Commander Gerald "Rob" Roben.

In Bellevue, Iowa, Post 273 is creating a Veterans Memorial Plaza that will overlook the Mississippi River.

One of the memorial's defining features, a Freedom Rock, will be placed at the center of a star filled with pavers that commemorate local veterans. Each county in Iowa has or will have a Freedom Rock, which Iowa artist Ray Sorenson will paint with images that are special to that county and that honor veterans.

The 7-ton stone will sit in front of a wall with the insignia of the different military branches. Over this wall, the American flag, POW/MIA flag and flags of the different branches of service will fly.

The memorial will be part of the town's river walk area across from the chamber of commerce, Post Commander Gerald "Rob" Roben said. It was planned to be completed in October 2016, aside from maybe the painting of the rock.

The post, which voted to make Bellevue the county's home for a Freedom Rock, will garner donations, sell pavers and oversee construction. The project goes hand-in-hand with the Legion's mission, Roben said.

"Americanism is promoted through recognition of veterans, those who have given their all or given of themselves," Roben said. "This is how we say thank you. This is how we say this is a good job done."

For more information about the Freedom Rock project, visit http://www.thefreedomrock.com/