Retired Army Veteran and Contractor Embarks on 2,300 Miles Walk in Memory of the 19 School Children Killed in Uvalde, Texas and the People of Ukraine
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2022
Uvalde, TX—U. S. Army Retired Veteran and Construction Company Contractor, Nikki J. Pina, age 64, of Corpus Christi, Texas embarked on a personal mission to walk from Corpus Christi, Texas to Port Orford, Oregon, a distance of 2,300 miles, in memory of the 19 school children killed by an 18 year old gunman on May 24, 2022 at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas and for the people of Ukraine who have courageously stood up against Russia’s unlawful invasion and unprovoked war.
Pina started at his hometown of Corpus Christi and traveled to Kerrville, Texas and then down to Bandera, Hondo, D’Hanis, Sabinal, Knippa, and just strolled into Uvalde on Saturday, July 16, 2022. He will spend a few days in Uvalde and then continue to Del Rio and westward until he arrives in Port Orford, Oregon at about the end of the year (2022).
Pina is walking alone pushing a modified shopping cart with his personal belongings and memorial crosses he plans to gift to each family of the 19 children killed at Robb Elementary in Uvalde. He already met with one of the children’s families on Saturday, July 16, and hopes to meet with all of them before he departs Uvalde.
Pina served 18 years in the U.S. Army before retiring and starting his own successful construction company in Corpus Christi. He considers himself semi-retired and wanted to go on this journey to support the 19 children of Uvalde and the valiant people of Ukraine who are daily defending themselves against Russia’s attack on democracy, as well as being killed daily.
Pina averages about 35 to 50 miles walking per day and sometimes walks in the evenings and early mornings to avoid the scorching heat in Texas and western states of New Mexico and Arizona until he reaches California and then heads north to Oregon.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal caught up with Pina on Saturday, July 16, at about 7:30 p.m. walking along U.S. Highway 90 in Uvalde in over 100 degrees temperature. He graciously gave us an interview and allowed us to photograph him for this story.
Pina noted that this is not his first walk from Corpus Christi to Port Orford, Oregon as he previously did it several years ago in memory of his late wife, Margaret, nor will it be his last journey as he plans to do others after completing this 2,300 miles walk. Often people think that he is a homeless man walking on the highway with a shopping cart, but Pina noted that he is not homeless and is doing this for a noble and dedicated cause in memory of the 19 children and the people of Ukraine.
Pina strolled into Uvalde at a very opportune time as the Texas Legislative Committee investigating the May 24th tragic massacre plans to unveil its report to the family members of the 19 children and two teachers killed as well as present a video of a school hallway camera of the dreadful incident, even though the video has previously been leaked and disclosed publicly earlier this week by the Austin American Statesman and KVUE TV of Austin, angering and further traumatizing the family members. He hopes to personally give each family a memorial cross during his stay in Uvalde.
Pina added he cherishes the many experiences along the journey and the countless of people he meets each day and the beauty of our country and planet, fulfilling his heart with joy and memories.
