VERGAS —The Lakes area has another artistic installment, but this time with a patriotic theme that is part of a nationwide project called, Freedom Rock . A Freedom Rock tells the story of veterans with a local connection, through art. There are Freedom Rocks in several states, including one at the Veterans Memorial Park near downtown Vergas.
The idea to bring patriotic outdoor artwork to the lakes area happened while Vergas resident Lyle Krieg was on a motorcycle trip with his wife. He came across a Freedom Rock and was inspired by it. After returning home, he brought the idea to his fellow board members at Veterans Memorial Park .
“We loved the idea,” said fellow board member Doug Safar. “There was no hesitation; it was a wonderful project and beautiful art honoring the veterans.” ADVERTISEMENT Henry Ditterich, who is also a board member, visited the gravel pit on the outskirts of town and examined several boulders that could be used for the Freedom Rock project.
He found one that offered viewers different details to the story being told at each turn. “They (gravel company) brought it out and it weighed 81⁄2 tons,” Ditterich said, noting it is five-to-six feet tall. The board had enough funds remaining from ongoing fundraising efforts to continually improve and maintain the park, so they hired Freedom Rock artist Ray Sorensen.
“I stumbled into painting the original Freedom Rock,” Sorensen said. He explained a “graffiti boulder” is located near his hom.