Wrangell Freedom Rock® Veterans Memorial at City Park

Alaska’s first official Freedom Rock®, a granite boulder painted by Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II with Wrangell’s veterans and history, is the centerpiece of a permanent veterans memorial the City and Borough is building at City Park. The artwork and site work are done; the Rock is to be set in place in spring under a pavilion still being chosen and funded, with benches, signage and a flagpole.

Also called: Freedom Rock, memorial, City Park, sponsorship, donation, Economic Development, Wrangell.

For: Veteran or service member.

Where it applies

Written for the jurisdictions listed here.

Wrangell City and Borough, AKCity

The City and Borough of Wrangell's Economic Development Department runs the Freedom Rock® Veterans Memorial project. Its pages describe Wrangell's Freedom Rock as the first official one in Alaska, part of the nationwide Freedom Rock® Tour by the artist Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II, developed with contributions from local veterans, families, residents, businesses and volunteers; the painted panels include a Tlingit code talker, the Coast Guard at Wrangell, the Distant Early Warning Line and local veterans. Where it stands. The artwork and initial site preparation and foundation work at City Park are complete. The borough is selecting and procuring the rest of the memorial - a pavilion, memorial benches, interpretive signage, a flagpole, landscaping, security features and other site furnishings - in phases as design, procurement, funding and maintenance allow, and will hold an official dedication when it is done. A $25,000 grant application to the State of Alaska's veterans affairs program is pending. The department's report in the Assembly's September 22, 2026 packet adds that site work is complete, pavilion options are being evaluated, a protective coating for the artwork has been ordered, and the Rock itself will not be set in place until spring, when a protective pavilion or shelter can go up. How to help. Donations by check payable to the City & Borough of Wrangell, with "Freedom Rock" on the memo line; businesses, families and individuals can sponsor a specific element or give materials or services. Contact Kate Thomas, Economic Development Director, (907) 874-2381, [email protected].

Thresholds

Thresholds for Wrangell Freedom Rock® Veterans Memorial at City Park
Gate	Rule
Open to the public; sponsorships open to all	The memorial and its sponsorships are not gated by service or rating; the entry is recorded so the rating filter never hides it.

Sources

Updated

Last updated 2026-10-16.

What changed then:

First published.

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Disclaimer

VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.