A 14-foot-tall steel cross was transported from Indian Creek Ranch in North Texas to Uvalde and arrived around midday today. The cross was built by Michael Collins, a father who heard the news about the horrific Robb School shooting in Uvalde and knew he needed to do something for Uvalde. He decided to build a special cross for Uvalde with the names of the students and teachers who perished etched on it. Michael Collins, along with his son, Michael with volunteers from Operation Texas Strong traveled Mineral Wells in North Texas to Uvalde, Texas arrived around midday today on Saturday, June 18th, 2022 to its permanent home on the property of Ace Bail Bond Company located at 1200 West Main Street in Uvalde.
The effort was a labor of love for Michael Collins and required a lot of work and money to complete it. At the start, Collins spent his own money for the materials in the beginning while his son. Michael Collins, Jr. started a Go Fund Me Page for the project.
On the Go Fund Me page it reads: “As many of you know, my dad built a steel cross for my brother after being killed in a car accident. Dad also created a second cross for Miss Glenda, a family friend and one of my brother’s most prominent supporters in his recovery.
" My Dad has felt the calling to build a cross memorial for the victims of the Uvalde school shooting. My dad has a huge heart, and if he could foot the bill himself, he wouldn’t accept a single penny. But, unfortunately, a fixed income doesn’t allow him that option, so we’re reaching out to family and friends for whatever you feel led to give.
Materials are sky-high right now, as many of you know. The money will be used to build and set up the cross. We’re working on finding a proper location in Uvalde right now as well. If there is money after, it will be donated to the victims’ families.
Picture from Operation Texas Strong Facebook Page
We’re also open to materials and supplies as well! So let us know if you have something that will come in handy.”
In an interview today, Michael Collins said in addition to donations being received for the project, donors also supplied materials used to create the Cross.
At 2:00 PM today, a small crowd assembled on Martinez Street which is the side of the Ace Bail Bond property where the cross was installed. A big hoist lifted the cross from the flatbed trailer to the location it was cemented into the ground.
Some family members of the 19 Robb School students were in attendance for the Cross installation.
