Walking with the Wounded’s, Walk for America Visits Houston

Six veterans walking 1,000 miles for charity came to  Houston as part of The Walk of America

Larry Hinkle, Houston Local and Texas Veteran Shares Pride and Needs of Injured Veterans on Walk of America

Walking With The Wounded’s, Walk Of America, the grueling 12-week walk of over 1,000 miles across America by six intrepid veterans made its way through Houston.  The expedition started from Los Angeles June 2 and will end in NYC September 6.

The Walk for America, which aims to spread the word about much needed funds for veterans charities also strives to raise awareness of the mental health issues many veterans face.

In Houston, the six participants visited the sites including the Fallen Warriors Memorial, WW2 Memorial, The Combined Arms Center, The British Consulate and appeared on-pitch at a Houston Astros game. The walkers were in Houston June 22 through June 25.

Amongst the walkers is Houston local, US Marine Corps Sgt. Larry Hinkle, a fifth generation Texan. Hinkle has already walked over 2,000 miles in the US in memory of friends and works and volunteers in VA hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, fire stations, police departments and salvation army locations.

Hinkle recently walked into San Antonio with the five other veterans on the journey, ending the day’s trek outside the Alamo, another source of Texas pride. He also was in Houston when Hurricane Harvey hit allowing him the ability to help with lending his coordination skills – working with rescue boats and trucks of supplies.

“Getting to visit Brooke Army Medical Center and see warriors – that is a source of inspiration; that is who we are walking for,” Hinkle said.

Week two also gave Hinkle a chance to share the pride of his home state.

“There is so much history in Texas, so much patriotism,” he added.

Hinkle is one of three Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) veterans taking part in the walk. WWP partnered with Walking With The Wounded to raise awareness of the challenges warriors face while also providing an opportunity for the veterans involved. The two nations fought so well together as coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq that partnering to take on the invisible wounds of war seemed only natural.

“We’ve been in the same places, the same trenches. There is just an immediate connection,” said Hinkle.

The six warriors’ journey started in early June in Long Beach, California. After two weeks, the group had experienced multiple California climates while walking more than 100 miles. Week two saw the veterans of six U.S. and U.K. branches of service hike on to San Antonio.

Additional veteran walkers include Frankie Perez, CPL, US Army National Guard, Adele Loar, Msgt, US Air Force, Kev Carr, Royal Logistic Corps, Kemsley Whittlesea, Royal Signals and Jonny Burns, Royal Anglian.

Houston is a key stop off point for the walkers as they begin to travel through Texas. Other stops in the Lone Star state include St Charles Way, Bay City and Beaumont.

The patrons of the walk are Prince Harry and former second lady, Dr Jill Biden.

With Prince Harry and Dr. Jill Biden as respective UK and US Patrons, the Walk Of America expedition brings together three US and three UK wounded veterans to share their personal journeys from injury to present day and provide a platform for a wider conversation around mental health. The expedition will also raise funds for veterans’ charities in both countries and raise awareness of the issues veterans face.

Donations can be made via www.WalkOfAmerica.com.

Photos courtesy of Walk of America