Saturday, June 27, was a warm and sunny day in Prescott Valley, Ariz. An estimated 400 -500 veterans, friends, family and public gathered at the Civic Center for the dedication of a painted 38,000-pound boulder that had become a Freedom Rock. Freedom Rocks are the idea and creation of folk artist Ray “Buba” Sorensen. Each has scenes and stories that pertain to veterans and events from a specific state or area of that state.

Submarine vet Gary “Wink” Winkelman took his turn at the podium and informed the audience of his idea that had come true. The battleship USS Arizona was to be on the rock, without any question or debate. But Winkleman announced that the fast-attack submarine USS Arizona was due to be launched in the coming year. He shared this with the artist and committee, and as a result both USS Arizonas are on our Freedom Rock!

Also on the same side are images of the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima on Feb. 23, 1945, and Arizona’s Marine hero Ira Hayes, one of the six flag-raisers.

The Freedom Rock project was a community wide effort by the submarine vets, The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and builders and suppliers.

Wayne T. Nelson
USSVI lifetime member
Holland Club member/Qual boat USS Medregal SS-480, 1968
Historian, American Legion Post 108, Prescott Valley, Ariz.