Ray [Bubba] Sorensen

Four faces, two people. When you look at the Veterans on the right, I hope you can still see the young man and woman on the left. They had plans, people they loved, and a whole lot of life ahead of them when they put on that uniform. This morning I got to help serve breakfast to local veterans at Hy-Vee. It meant a lot to me to be able to say hi and say thank you. One of the greatest privileges of painting The Freedom Rock® has been hearing veterans tell their stories. This Veterans Day, I hope you’ll pull up a chair or make a call. Ask a Veteran about somebody they served with. You might carry that name with you for the rest of your life. To every Veteran reading this, thank you for the years you gave. May we honor you in the way we look out for each other. Happy Veterans Day. 🇺🇸 — Bubba

🇺🇸 Well, the road to America’s 250th birthday has apparently been a little rocky! 😂 Tomorrow I'll be live painting a special Iowa-shaped rock at America’s Harvest Festival on the Iowa State Capitol grounds in Des Moines! At least, that's the plan... assuming the rock still shows up! 🤣 I was supposed to have this big fella earlier in the week to get a good head start on the artwork. Instead, it's been on quite the adventure. An axle problem in Gary, Indiana, a flat tire near Colfax, Iowa, and somewhere along the way the rock even decided to take a little nap on its side on the trailer! As of right now, it's supposed to arrive this afternoon. Fingers crossed! 🤞 So, a little fair warning for anyone coming out tomorrow: you probably won't see a finished masterpiece! You'll be catching me much earlier in the creative process than originally planned. Maybe some primer, some sketching, and hopefully a little paint if everything cooperates! The artwork will celebrate America's 250th anniversary and Iowa's agricultural heritage, honoring the generations of farmers who helped build this great state and nation. I'm excited to be part of this celebration, and I appreciate @HyVee helping make this special project possible. Come find me at location #57 on the festival map! Stop by, say hello, watch a little painting, and see how much progress I can make! 📍 Iowa State Capitol Grounds, Des Moines 📅 Saturday, October 24 | 1 PM until dusk 🎟️ FREE admission and plenty of family-friendly activities! After all, America wasn't built in a day... and apparently neither is getting a rock delivered to Iowa! 🇺🇸🪨 #America250 #AmericasHarvestFestival #BubbaPaints #Iowa #FreedomRock

25 years later, we remember those we lost, the families forever changed, and the heroes who ran toward the danger when others were running away. About my old sketch: The Twin Towers and Pentagon represent the places attacked that morning. The eagle flying away represents Flight 93 and the lives lost in Pennsylvania. Draped across it all, the American flag represents what followed — a nation coming together as one. May we never forget their courage, their sacrifice, or the way our nation came together. 🇺🇸 #NeverForget #September11 #PatriotDay

“The Forgotten War”… but never forgotten by a grateful nation. Today marks the anniversary of the Korean War Armistice, signed on July 27, 1953. More than 36,000 Americans gave their lives in Korea, while hundreds of thousands more endured bitter winters, impossible terrain, and fierce fighting in defense of freedom. Many came home carrying burdens that lasted a lifetime. The Korean War is often called the Forgotten War, but the men and women who served should never be forgotten. My sketch was inspired by the silent soldiers of the Korean War Veterans Memorial. A few years ago I walked by it illuminated at night. In the poncho I put the outline of the Korean Peninsula and 38th parallel as a reminder that every hill climbed, every sacrifice made, and every life changed happened in a place that forever became part of their story. Today, we honor every Korean War veteran and remember those who never came home. Armistice – July 27, 1953 #KoreanWar #ForgottenWar #NeverForgotten

My sketch in honor of Maj. Brad Hovey, an Iowan, Airman, husband, father, and patriot whose life was defined by service to something greater than himself. Those who knew Brad speak not only of his professionalism and leadership, but of his character. He represented the very best of the men and women who wear our nation’s uniform—quietly carrying tremendous responsibility while serving with humility and dedication. The loss of Maj. Hovey in the recent B-52 crash is a heartbreaking reminder that service to our country carries risks far beyond the battlefield. While most Americans will never fully understand the sacrifices made by our military families, we can pause to remember, honor, and be grateful. As we remember Brad, we also keep in our prayers his family, fellow Airmen, friends, and all those whose lives he touched.🇺🇸

The @CycloneATH Rock is back and better than ever!! Greenfield tornado survivor has ‘Cyclone Rock’ that weathered twister repainted who13.com/news/greenfield-cy…

I sketched this Normandy Cross a few years ago. If you look closely, the shadows within the cross depict the moments before the landings—paratroopers overhead, soldiers packed into landing craft, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead. Today we remember the thousands who crossed the English Channel and faced impossible odds to liberate Europe. Many never made it home, but their sacrifice helped secure freedom for generations they would never meet. May we never forget the price they paid on those beaches and beyond. “These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent.” — Ronald Reagan 🇺🇸 Remembering the Greatest Generation on the anniversary of D-Day.

Memorial Day isn’t about a long weekend. It’s about remembering the men and women who gave everything so the rest of us could live free. Today at the Freedom Rock, surrounded by veterans, families, bikers, kids, old friends, and new faces, I was reminded again that patriotism is still alive and well in America. This year’s rock honors 250 years of the American spirit — from Washington crossing the Delaware, to Teddy Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Grant, Medal of Honor recipients, the heroes of 9/11, Vietnam veterans, and the Iowans we lost in service this past year. Every name, every face, every flag tells a story paid for by sacrifice. Thank you to everyone who came out today, and especially to the Gold Star families and veterans who continue to carry the weight of service long after the battles end. May we never forget that freedom is not inherited automatically — it is preserved by courage, sacrifice, and remembrance. God bless our fallen heroes, our veterans, and the United States of America. 🇺🇸

Vietnam Veterans Day 🇺🇸 March 29 is set aside to honor the men and women who served during the Vietnam War—a generation that didn’t always receive the welcome home they deserved. Today, we pause to remember their sacrifice… and to say what should have been said all along: Welcome home. This piece reflects that moment across time— a soldier still standing watch… and a veteran, years later, returning the salute. More than 58,000 names are etched into that wall. Each one a story. Each one a sacrifice. Each one never forgotten. Thank you Vietnam Veterans.

I can’t contribute much, but I like to create artwork to honor those who serve our country. I don’t always get to put as much time and effort into these sketches as I would like, but here is a rough tribute honoring two Iowa soldiers who gave their lives in the recent Iranian attack in Kuwait. Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Waukee, and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, answered the call of duty and represented the very best of our state and our country. Their sacrifice is a reminder that the freedoms we enjoy are defended every day by men and women willing to stand in harm’s way for the rest of us. My prayers are with their families, their fellow soldiers, and the communities that raised them. We are also learning of a third service member with ties to West Des Moines who may have been lost in the same attack. As more details are confirmed, our hearts and prayers will be with that family as well. Freedom lives because they were willing to defend it. 🇺🇸 Iowa will remember.

Grit. Heart. Country. Jack Hughes and @usahockey delivered a moment America won’t forget. Had to sketch it. 🇺🇸🏒 #TeamUSA #usahockey #OlympicGold #BubbaPaints @TeamUSA

Wonder what he’s doing tonight 🤔 🤣 Well deserved!! 🍻🦅 #USAHockey 🇺🇸🇺🇸