Cedar Falls’ Freedom Rock, which sits in Cedar Falls Veterans Park, was vandalized Saturday night.
Tom Hagarty, commander of the Cedar Falls American Legion No. 237, said the rock was spray painted. Other areas of the park were also damaged by spray paint, he said.
The vandalism was discovered on Sunday morning.
Freedom Rock, before the vandalism
A Memorial Day ceremony will continue as planned at the park while the Parks Department coordinates a cleanup. Officials are continuing to investigate the destruction.
The rock includes images of the Five Sullivan Brothers killed in World War II, Medal of Honor winner Robert Hibbs of Cedar Falls, a U.S. Army second lieutenant killed in Vietnam in 1966, and Taylor Morris, a U.S. Navy explosive ordnance disposal expert who survived a bomb blast in Afghanistan despite losing portions of all four limbs. It also bears an image of veterans and people of various generations saluting the flag.
The rock was painted by Greenfield artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II, who wants to put a Freedom Rock in every county in Iowa. Sorensen completed the rock last year and it was officially dedicated last November.
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