Cedar Falls, located in Black Hawk County, hosts one of 99 “Freedom Rocks” in Iowa. Inspired by the movie Saving Private Ryan, Artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II wanted a way to give Veterans a form of recognition. He started the original Freedom Rock on a 60+ ton boulder in a rural part of Iowa. The artist continued his quest until each county had one.

The rock painting in Cedar Falls depicts a woman mourning over a tombstone and a Veteran paraplegic with the phrase: “when the battles are done, the war isn’t over for our Veterans or their family. It is just beginning.” Five Navy Veterans and other soldiers (including a United States Army officer), a draped American flag and a photo of U.S. Army officer Robert John Hibbs are illustrated on the rock. There is also an individual flagpole and bronze plaque honoring Cedar Falls local Hibbs, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam.