There’s been a big project taking shape in the little tent in Crofton’s South City Park over the last ten days.
The idea for a “freedom rock” for the city of Crofton originated when Jim Hames was traveling to northwest Iowa for some family events and noticed one of these unique veteran memorials in Winterset and other area towns.
Being a veteran and a member of Legion Post 128 Hames began looking into a plan to create one for the local community, then proposed the plan to his fellow legion members. With the legion’s approval, by fall 2024 they were soon arranging to get the project underway. To follow through on the work, a committee of legion members was formed which included Bob Suing, Bob Haberer, Francis Guenther, Shane Wieseler, Ed Kleinschmit and Jim Hames.
As it happened, Hames not only had the idea; he also had the rock.
The large rock was donated by Hames’ brother-in-law Earl and Rose Berkey who own a parcel of land south of Crofton. In October 2024, Hames used his skidloader level the ground west of the existing Veterans Memorial in the South Park and the concrete slab was poured two days later (October 12) by Randy Leader and Brian Foxhoven, volunteering their labor.