But, the truth is these “GI brats” can’t go home. At least not the way most people go back to their “hometown.” We can’t open our old front doors and smell dinner coming from the kitchen. We can’t walk along the spongey purple carpets inside P.S. 26 or grab a slice of pizza at the bowling alley, or catch a (six-month-old!) movie at the Island Theatre. We can’t listen to the last ferryboat of the night docking on the “island side” and know that soon... we’ll be warm at home in our beds.

What once was physically our home on Governors Island may be long gone, but our memories are forever, right? The “Governor’s Island Brats Anthology” is a project started by former GI Coast Guard military brats, Evelyn Manangan-Price [res.1972-1984] and Wendy Miraflores Belessis [res.1966-1984], to preserve the residential history of Governor’s Island, New York. We are accepting poetry, non-fiction prose, pictures; legends, recipes and memoir submissions from any former military residents or long-time civilians who worked on the Island.

Submitting is easy! New and old work is welcome.

1. 1.Prose/Memoir: Non-fiction only, please, including memoir and expository prose. Maximum 3000 words per email, approximately ten (10) pages typed double-spaced, 12 point font with a one-inch (1”) margin all around the text. Excerpts of longer work are fine. Formats: .pdf, .doc, .docx or compatible formats. You can also paste the text (up to 3000 words only) in the email body.
   

2. 2.Poetry: Up to six (6) poems. Maximum 1200 words, 12 point font, double-spaced, 1” margin.
   

    *(Contemporary work with a political context is welcome in poetry and prose categories.)

3. 3.Pictures: Please send LOW-RESOLUTION image(s) up to 2MB total per email for initial consideration. In photos please identify any persons in the photo, location and date taken, if available. A brief personal aside about the image is welcome. If you have more than 10 photos, you can always direct us to your Picasa, Flickr or other photo-sharing account.
   

4. 4.Legends and Recipes: Please briefly describe and/or cite the origin of the legend or recipe including any relevant photographs or archival material. Maximum 5 pieces, 700-800 words max.
   

5. 5.*For GI Brats: Please provide your “Quarters” address and a brief description along with your submission. Since we’re military, GI Brats didn’t have conventional “street addresses.” Building numbers took the place of street names. Landmarks replaced cross-streets. Where did you live?
   

6. 6.Send your submissions and inquiries to:
   

    GIBRATANTHOLOGY@GMAIL.COM

Please include the genre and subject of your submission in the subject line. For example:

PROSE: BIG POOL, SUMMER 1980.

POETRY: COAST GUARD DAY, 1975.

PHOTO: ST. CORNELIUS CHURCH IN WINTER.

LEGEND: HEADLESS PIGEONS.

RECIPE: FIL-AM BBQ PORK SHISH-KABOB.

Deadline: To be determined. Submissions will be open for at least one year... probably longer.

We’re looking forward to reading your stories, seeing your pictures and testing your recipes!