I was one of the "Meadow Ghetto" kids. We were military dependent kids who's dads and moms were currently serving a tour of duty with one of the military services in the New York city/Long Island area. It was a strange setup. We didnt live within the confines of a gated base, or post. Mitchell Manor was just a housing area, wide open to anybody to walk through. Their was a small PX, Commissary, a gym and pool at Mitchell Field in Garden City. We went to "civilian" schools and learned to live the double life. Military friends, civilian friends, a Long Island culture, food, music, and clothes of the times. My stepfather served back to back tours in Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, so I went through Woodland JHS and EMHS straight, just like an East Meadow local. Yes, some negative memories about dealing with racism, prejudice, bullies, and the confusion of living like, talking like, being like a Long Islander but knowing I wasnt born there. Trying to establish an identity, a group to belong to. Seeing military dependent friends come and go, some because their dad died in Vietnam. Their were good times too. Really cool local friends, going places in the local area and just enjoying being a teenager. The fond memories win. Legal or not, I will always be a little bit of "Lawn eye-lan-deh". Enjoying my "koafee" at the "muall", if I have a spare "quadah". Wishing all the class of 77 only the best.