Wrangell residents have a unique opportunity to shape a new monument in town honoring military service. The borough is actively gathering personal accounts from veterans to establish a central theme for the Freedom Rock, which an Iowa artist will paint in City Park in August.

According to J.R. Meek, the borough’s marketing and community development coordinator, requesting these narratives is an effort to engage residents while highlighting the experiences of those who served.

“I would say that we have received at least a dozen submissions so far. And we will continue to take them for a while,” Meek said.

“There will be an interpretive sign posted near the Freedom Rock once it is placed, and that sign will contain information for other veterans and their stories,” he said.

“The artist is working to represent the history of service of Alaska Native and Alaskan veterans alike. ... There are 33 tribes represented in the country that were code talkers during World War II, Tlingit being one of them,” said Kate Thomas, economic development director.

“The themes that we are looking to communicate through the mural for the veterans memorial are Wrangell’s cultural heritage, maritime culture and military history. We wanted to focus and look back to world wars that tell a story of community where Wrangell answers the call, instead of focusing on one specific story,” added Meek.

With the pending arrival of artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II on July 20, Meek said the overall concept for the memorial was still being finalized. Sorensen, who has painted similar boulder-size memorials in 11 states, will paint Alaska’s first official Freedom Rock, creating a permanent landmark and tourist attraction designed to recognize the dedication of Wrangell veterans.

To mark the occasion, the public was invited to a community potluck starting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, at City Park. The gathering offered a chance to meet Sorensen, discover more about the monument, share military histories and celebrate the project.

The 6-foot-wide boulder was at the Marine Service Center last week and will be moved to City Park after the Tuesday event.

Project organizers emphasize that submitting personal histories and photographs is one of the most impactful ways for the public to participate. Those historical records will serve as creative inspiration for the artist, ensuring the final piece represents Wrangell veterans legacy.

While organizers will collect these accounts through the week, submitting them early offers the best chance to influence the design. Contributions can be submitted online at https://bit.ly/4pJLoFH.

Meek estimated the total cost of the project, including Sorensen’s fees, site and prep work and borough staff time and machinery use, at $54,330, which the borough will cover.

The borough assembly approved withdrawing the last of the Marian Glenz Trust, which will provide $19,000 toward expenses. This fund was created in 2018 after Glenz, who passed away in 2017, left a $50,000 bequest to the borough. Glenz was a dedicated museum volunteer who spent 10 years on the visitor bureau. 

The Freedom Rock initiative originally started in 1999 in Adair County, Iowa, when Sorensen painted a massive boulder to express his gratitude to veterans.