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Luke Rolfes, an assistant professor of English at Northwest, is pictured in the office of the GreenTower Press, which has published the 13th volume “Proud To Be: Writing by American Warriors.” (Photo by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)
A new anthology of writing edited by a Northwest Missouri State University faculty member in collaboration with the University’s GreenTower Press is preserving and amplifying veteran’s voices.
“Proud To Be: Writing by American Warriors”
The 13th volume of the annual publication, “Proud To Be: Writing by American Warriors,” was released Monday in conjunction with Veterans Day.
Northwest’s GreenTower Press – known for publishing the Midwest Chapbook Series and Laurel Review, a biannual print magazine – published this year’s anthology. It was edited by Luke Rolfes, an assistant professor of English in Northwest’s Department of Language, Literature and Writing.
“I am thankful for the service of all military personnel, and we at GreenTower Press are happy to give back to that community in any way we can,” Rolfes said, noting GreenTower is publishing the anthology after the closure earlier this year of SEMO Press at Southeast Missouri State University. “James Brubaker, the former editor, was a big advocate for veteran writing and the power in community of vets who write, and we hope to continue this advocacy. My favorite part about the ‘Proud to Be’ series is that it gives veterans and their families an opportunity to express themselves and process their experiences in a constructive and artistic way.”
The collection of creative writing features poetry, fiction, essays and photography by and about veterans, service members, and military-connected families nationwide. Spanning generations, the collection illuminates stories that reflect the United States’ military experience.
“This anthology supports the folks who serve this country,” Rolfes said. “Not only that, but the writing in ‘Proud to Be’ is great. This anthology is varied in content, style and form. The experiences these writers draw from is historical and firsthand, and it is important for us to hear and remember them.”
Released for the first time in November 2012, the annual anthology is funded by the Missouri Humanities and published in collaboration with university presses.
The anthology reaffirms Missouri Humanities’ commitment to amplifying veteran voices and showcasing their stories as an integral part of the humanities. By providing a platform for veterans and the military-connected community to share their stories, their contributions offer profound insights into history and culture, deepen understanding of the human experience, and cultivate empathy, reflection and dialogue.
To learn more about “Proud to Be,” including how to submit and purchase volumes, visit mohumanities.org/veterans.
Missouri Humanities is a 501c (3) non-profit organization that promotes a thoughtful, informed and civil society through educational public programming and grants to Missouri organizations. Missouri Humanities is funded through grants and donations, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the state of Missouri. For more information, visit www.mohumanities.org or follow the organization Facebook and Instagram @MoHumanites.
