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Iowan honors veterans each Memorial DayBy Jennifer Bremer
Memorial day is a day when we remember those whom we have lost. For one Iowan, it is about his way of honoring those who serve or have served our country in the military. Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II has recognized veterans for the past 10 years by painting a 12-foot, 56-ton rock in west central Iowa in their honor. The beginning Back in 1999, a 19-year-old Sorensen got the idea to paint the rock after watching the movie Saving Private Ryan. "I have always been patriotic, but at that time I felt like patriotism in our country was at an all time low. So I thought of how I could help honor our veterans," said Sorensen. "Then I drove by the rock one day and wondered what it would look like painted patriotic." The boulder he chose had been used as a graffiti rock by area youngsters until that time and his original mural was also painted over, but with the encouragement of veterans and local supporters, he decided to paint another mural the following year. In 2003, he tried to quit painting the rock and the word got out about that. "I was bombarded by e-mails and phone calls begging me to continue to paint the rock. So I did, and I vowed to continue painting it each year as long as I can afford the paint and I'm physically able to do it," he said. The process Each year he starts out by painting the entire rock with white paint. He thinks about what to paint throughout the year; and will sketch what he is planning for the front, but most of the rest of the rock is all painted free hand. The back of the rock is then pieced together to show different aspects of the veterans serving our country. Sorensen mostly relies on donations for purchasing his paint and supplies each year. He will use about $600 worth of paint along with brushes, ladders and other equipment. His upbringing Sorensen spends several days and many hours at the rock to get it all completed by Memorial Day each year. "I plan on using the entire month of May to complete the rock," he said. He also thanks his rural upbringing and working on the farm for teaching him the work ethic needed to finish a project. "I learned a lot from my dad. He taught me to see a job through and never quit," he said. "Growing up on a farm taught me that." He said it also has taught him to enjoy rural Iowa, which he says is part of the joy of having the rock where it is. He has also always enjoyed drawing and painting and throughout his upbringing was helped out by many teachers through the years. When he's not painting the rock he works for his own business, Bubbaz National Artwork, as a contract mural painter and graphic designer in Ames. Rewards He has received numerous rewards and recognition for painting the rock. "I hear from people all over who have seen the rock and send me thanks for doing it," said Sorensen. "Many people will just stop and watch when I'm painting, as well." He said one Saturday, a few years back, he had so many cars stopping to watch him paint that he couldn't get much done. "I was getting nothing done and then a family approached me and the dad put his hand on my shoulder and said 'thank you for doing this.' They then continued to tell me their son had just been killed in Iraq and they had driven all the way from Chicago just to see the rock," he explained. "That made me remember why I do this each year." The army green paint used on the helicopter on the back of the rock is more than just paint. By accident, several bikers stopped to see the rock on their way to Washington, D.C., to spread the ashes of some of their military buddies at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. They asked if they could spread some ashes at the rock, but Sorensen didn't think that would work since it is always windy at the location; so he told them they could add the ashes to his paint. The original ashes were from eight soldier buddies of those bikers. One more was added last year and one this year. Sorensen always leaves part of the original ashes paint on the mural and adds to the helicopter painting each year. The paint is kept in a separate marked container to be used each year. In the press Sorensen has had many newspaper, television and magazine stories done on his work through the years. He said he received the most recognition last year when the Associated Press picked up the story and it was printed in newspapers all over the country, as well as London, Paris, Russia and Japan. "I received e-mails from all over and I didn't realize the story had been distributed all over the world," he said. "But I don't do this for the recognition. I do it to honor those who have served our country and have allowed us to live in the best country in the world." Editor's Note: The rock is located about one mile south of I-80 exit 86 in west central Iowa. A celebration--Rocking with Bubba and Rolling in Greenfield--will be held at the rock on Sunday, May 25 at 1 p.m. to commemorate Sorensen's 10th year of painting the rock. Jennifer Bremer can be reached by phone at 515-833-2120 or by e-mail at jbremermaj@hotmail.com.  ASHES--The army green color used in painting the helicopters on the backside of the rock is special because it contains the ashes of 10 veterans who served America. Sorensen always leaves a part of the original paint with the ashes and adds to the picture or changes the picture in some way. Date: 5/22/08
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