Hundreds of people gathered at Lakeside Park in Big Lake last Saturday to witness the official ribbon-cutting and unveling of the Freedom Rock.

Visitors and guests and numerous military personnel were on hand in Big Lake as the dedication of the Big Lake Freedom Rock took place from 10 a.m. to noon. The event was capped off with a trio of planes doing a flyover around lunchtime.

Karen Blake and Linda Paulson, Co-Chairs of the Big Lake Freedom Rock, were front and center as several prominent Big Lakers took to encircling the rock with a blue ribbon. Blake grabbed the giant pair of scissors and snipped the ribbon to the delight of onlookers and photographers.

Recently, the Freedom Rock had been garnished with hundreds of pavers in a circular walkway around the giant granite boulder. Many servicemen and women’s names were carved into the pavers, showing their names, ranks and service years to the United States Military.

Soon after the ribbon-cutting, Blake and Paulson climbed aboard a patriotically-decorated flatbed trailer as they thanked the many people involved who made their dream come to fruition. The National Anthem was sung along with the Big Lake High School Chamber Choir under the direction of Mary Ebanks. Dozens of youngsters from Independence Elementary STEM stood with their hands over the hearts and said the Pledge of Allegiance while facing the giant flag hanging from a tall crane near the parking lot.

Pastor Kyle Sidlo of Saron Lutheran Church gave the invocation and prayer for the event.

Artist Ray “ Bubba”  Sorenson — an internationally known artist from Iowa painted the rock but was unable to attend Saturday’s event. Sorenson painted a draped American Flag across the rock along with an American Eagle flying through the air with a purple heart medal in its talons. On one side of the rock was a pictoral Sorenson painted a soldier dealing with PTSD. The picture depicts a soldier’s hand over his face expressing the silent suffering experienced when a life-threatening event occurs, as seen in combat. The image recognizes that some wounds that our veterans struggle with are not always visible.

The ashes from a Big Lake combat veteran are painted into the uniform of this symbolic soldier picture.

Sorenson also painted a local sailor, Arthur Embretson, one of 306 lost sailors on the USS Cyclops when it sank near the North Carolina coast. Also painted on this side of the Freedom Rock is a portrait of Stella Huso, Big Lake’s longest living Gold Star mother.

In honor of women who have and are serving in the U.S. military, Sorenson painted three local Big Lake women surrounding Rosie the Riveter, who was used to motivate, represent and unite women during the WWII war effort.

During Saturday’s dedication, a special front-row space was reserved for those whose lives are forever edepicted on the rock. Blake and Paulson made sure the front row guests were acknowledged asking each to stand and wave to the crowd, even 102-year old Huso, who looks spry for her advanced age.

Brigadier General Lowell Kruse of Camp Ripley spoke on his duties and responsibilities of the serveicemen he has under him. Commander Paul Seefeld of the American Legion Post #147 (and current Big Lake City Councilmember) also gave a speech and invited all veterans to make use of the local Legions and their benefits.

Big Lake Mayor Paul Knier gave a moving speech honoring all military personnel and acknowledged once again the great efforts of Blake and Paulson in giving Big Lake a special monumnet. For over 10 years, Blake and Paulson organized veteran-focused events at their local church in Big Lake and worked diligently to bring this monument to active and inactive memebrs of the miltary.

The Big Lake Freedom Rock is the fourth painted rock in the state of Minnesota.