‘Thank you for stepping up’ - Siouxland Freedom Park unveils Freedom Rock shelter ahead of Veterans Day

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (KTIV) - Siouxland Freedom Park in South Sioux City, Nebraska, unveiled the first phase of the Freedom Rock Shelter Project on Tuesday, Nov. 10, the day before Veterans Day.

Shelter protects painted rock

The 21-ton rock was painted in 2021 and honors 11 local heroes. It was the first Freedom Rock in Nebraska. The new shelter will help protect it from the elements.

Design based on military tents

CMBA Architects designed the shelter in partnership with Port Neal Welding and O’Dell Electric. The shelter is designed to look like the tan tactical tents used by service members overseas.

For CMBA CEO Brian Crichton, the design is personal. Crichton serves with the 185th and has served in the military for 33 years.

“This idea really stems from my service,” Crichton said. “I’ve deployed overseas and I’ve experienced being inside of tents and actually putting them up from the ground, you know, on the gravel all the way up and putting in all of the bunks and cots and all of that stuff for people to live in and also work out of.”

A photo Crichton took while stationed in Kuwait was the inspiration for the design.

“And, military members, when you walk into a tent, the smell of it, exactly where you’re at,” Crichton said. “And I think all military members, no matter what era that they come from, would have that same memory.”

Crichton said the shared experience led to the concept.

“It’s a common memory no matter what service that you’re in,” he said. “You would have been in a tent at some point.”

“Let’s make it real,” Crichton said. “And it really turned out well.”

Connection to military service

Crichton said his father was in the U.S. Army and was a Vietnam veteran.

“My interest and love of the military goes back a long ways,” Crichton said. “And as a member of the 185th, to see the way in which Freedom Park is honoring veterans, the 1% of our whole population is just amazing.”

“Those that have served years and decades ago all the way to today, it’s just continuing, and it’s just something we need to keep going,” he added.

Message to veterans

Crichton had a message for veterans and active military members ahead of Veterans Day.

“Thank you first and foremost,” Crichton said. “Thank you for stepping up, stepping on that line, saying I do, and I will support the country no matter what, and putting your life on the line as well.”

“I love serving alongside you and we’ll continue to do that for a few more years,” he said.

Next phase

Phase 2 will add bricks recognizing service members, as well as pillars.

“I’m excited for the pillars to get put in place in the spring, and each of those pillars will direct you to some place on our YouTube page to give you the history of each of these Faces,” Diana Kincaid said.

The entire project is expected to be complete by spring 2027

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