The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
A veteran reaches out to fellow servicemen
Author Mike Galitello donates book proceeds to Torrington Veterans Service Office
TORRINGTON » Mike Galitello has been steadfast in his support to help his fellow veterans.
On Thursday, he continued those efforts, donating money to the Torrington Veterans Service Office he earned from sales of his two books, “Katerina’s Tears” and “The Ornament,” with a brief ceremony at the Litchfield Woods Health Care Center.
Galitello, a resident of Torrington, is a veteran of the Korean War, he said Thursday, and says he is driven to help local veterans by memories of those with whom he served.
“I was a G.I. in battle, and a lot of guys didn’t make it. I was very fortunate to make it back. Some of the guys are still on the battlefield, and I feel obligated to help in their cause,” said Galitello. “I remember them, and I think about them — to dedicate this work to them is a blessing.”
Bruce Falls, commander of American Legion Post 38, thanked Galitello for his continued support Thursday.
“Corporal Mike has helped a lot of veterans to get things that we wouldn’t be able to give them. It’s a great feeling to help another veteran — I know how he feels,” said Falls.
The funding will be used to provide final honors for veterans during their burial service, according to Bud Atwood, director of the service office, and also help veterans who served outside of wartime, and thus do not qualify for assistance.
To date, Galitello has donated between $2,000 to $3,000. And he’s not stopping — a third novel is in the works.
With this latest effort, Galitello provided local student Olivia Pinto the chance to further her fledgling dreams to be a writer.
The opportunity began, Pinto said Thursday, when Rob Carr, who ghost-wrote the first two books with Galitello, came to Act Natural Health & Wellness on Water Street.
Carr struck up a conversation with Pam Pinto, Olivia’s mother and the owner of the store, about the books. Soon, Olivia Pinto began to help the pair with the third book, a tale for children called “Just Us.”
“I’ve been along for the ride ever since, and it’s been amazing,” she said. “It’s been a great opportunity and I’m very grateful for Mike for letting me join in this project.”
Pinto is currently studying at Northwestern Connecticut Community College, and hopes to pursue a career, at least in part, as a writer. She said the chance to visit other places in her mind, and to make friends with the characters of one’s own creation are a pleasure.
“You get to create your own world. Who doesn’t like that?” Pinto said. “That’s one of the amazing things — you not only get to travel to different places, you get to create your own places, you get to create your own characters. So that’s been a unique experience that I’ve really liked, being a writer.”
“She has the intelligence, the imagination, the creativity. She deserves a chance, and she has it with me and with Rob,” said Galitello. “She’s doing fine work. The chapters she’s done so far are just perfect.”
Galitello has a habit of spending time in service to people.
Litchfield Woods Administrator Denise Quarles said Thursday that Galitello is a regular presence at Litchfield Woods, where his wife is living, and makes sure to spend time with the veterans there.
“I feel very privileged to have Mike be a part of our community. He’s entrusted us with the care of his loved one and he takes time out each and every day to honor all of our veterans here,” said Quarles. “He’s a great advocate for all of our residents. We’re just lucky to have him, and it’s really a blessing, all he does for the veterans. We honestly, as a community, can’t do enough to help our veterans, so it’s just one more opportunity to help one another.”
For Galitello, writing the books is a compulsion, he said — it’s just part of what he does.
“Let me just say, I’m compelled to do this, because I give back,” said Galitello. “This is my way of giving back, and I feel good about it.”