O'Malley's Most Important Day

About the Book

My name is O’Malley—Boots to the family I adopted when they moved into the military quarters at Ft. Totten, New York, that had been my family’s ancestral home for many generations. This is the story of another one of our many adventures together. I had never ventured far from home, but thanks to Sandy, the youngest member of the family, I was able to enjoy one of the Most Important Days of my life. I was secreted away in Sandy’s backpack and taken on a trip to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York to attend a football game. He knew that I love to march to military music, since I practice with the children in my family and their friends every Saturday morning on the parade ground in front of our house. Most cats do not get involved with that type of activity, but for me it is an absolutely thrilling experience. Once we arrived at West Point, I met Colonel, another military cat, who was kind enough to show me around and to explain some of the history of the Academy. He also provided the opportunity to take part in my favorite activity. This was a truly inspiring day and reminded me of the sacrifices that so many young people make to serve our Country in order to ensure that we continue to enjoy all of the freedom that we often take for granted.

About the Author

Sylvia Graham Olejniczak was educated in the sciences and worked in research and as an editor for scientific publications prior to her marriage. Frequent moves, due to the life of an Army wife, meant she could no longer work in her original profession. Instead, trained in classical ballet and a dance teacher during her college years, she began a long and happy career as a children’s creative drama and dance director at each of the military posts to which her husband was assigned. She and her husband Julian, a career Army officer, wrote three children’s musicals that were performed at West Point, New York; Fort Lewis, Washington; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Years ago she documented the events that are told in the O’Malley books; this is the second in a series of books about this adventurous cat. The Olejniczak children: Julian, Julie Ann, and Sandy, along with their cat, Boots O’Malley, provided great material for the book series.