Charlie Galatas, a St. Charles Parish native, first cooked a meal for a group of wounded veterans 10 years ago.
After the meal of jambalaya, the veterans lined up to shake Galatas’ hand and thank him.
“I’m not going to lie to you, I teared up,” Galatas said, remembering the moment. “Y’all thanking me. I said, no thank y’all for what the hell y’all done and the sacrifices that you’ve made for our country.”
The veterans had gathered in Monroe for the Road Warrior Foundation’s annual ride. The event brings about 10 to 12 wounded, ill and injured veterans together for a multiday motorcycle trip. The foundation was co-founded by U.S. Air Force veterans Craig Anders and Stephen Berger in 2013.
For Galatas, the veterans he met that day inspired him.
“I was meeting all these people who have had serious disabilities, things happen to them and they’re making efforts to do things and get their life back,” he said. “It’s very heartfelt to meet these people, understand what they’ve been through.”
Galatas told the event organizers: “I don’t care where you go in the country from this point forward, I want to be a part of it.”
Every year since, Galatas, a safety manager, has taken off a week of work, packed up a trailer with pots, pans and supplies and traveled to meet a new group of veterans. He now has a support staff, including his wife, Julie Galatas, and friends Carl Tabb, Wendy Tabb, Kristie Carlander and Jason Fulton. They prepare daily breakfast and dinner for a group of about 20 to 25 people.
“I couldn’t do this without my team,” Galatas said.
The work is entirely volunteer. Galatas said money from his Sweet Heat for Your Meat Seasoning business helps fund the meals he provides, and he gladly accepts donations.
Others have also stepped in to help offset the costs. His employer, Southern Power Systems, covers the diesel fuel needed to pull his cooking trailer, while members of his cooking team gather donations and supplies. Tammy Champagne of Hahnville also contributes to the effort by crocheting two queen-size American flag blankets each year. One is auctioned at a rally, while the other is given to one of the participating veterans as a gift.
“It’s a small sacrifice to be able to give back to these people who’ve given so much for our country,” Galatas said.
Galatas said the Road Warrior Foundation is also entirely volunteer-run, with no money going toward salaries. Instead, donations help cover the costs of the veterans’ participation, including lodging, riding gear and travel to and from the event.
In addition to the annual ride, the foundation also offers off-road adventures, hunting trips, skydiving, ziplining, fishing trips and other outdoor activities to veterans. The idea is that adventure therapy can bring veterans together and give them a challenging experience.
“It gives them the security that, ‘Hey, even though I have a disability, I can still do what I want to do,’” Galatas said.
In a few weeks, Galatas will meet veterans in North Carolina, where riders will spend several days taking day trips from the Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge in Robbinsville, before traveling to Indiana for the ride’s final gathering.
Galatas will serve authentic Cajun meals, including jambalaya, pastalaya, roast beef po’boys and his most requested item: a Cajun surf and turf made with shrimp Alfredo, smoked pork tasso and andouille.
Galatas said volunteering with the foundation and serving the veterans gives him closure.
“It makes me feel like I’m finally accomplishing giving back,” he said. “My heart tells me this is what I need to be doing.”
Veterans interested in joining next year’s ride can apply online at roadwarrior.org.