Music for Saturday: A walk down patriotic memory lane

My fifth grade social studies teacher was Mrs. McCaskill. She was a very interesting woman. Whenever she had a headache, she would place her Bible to her forehead and pray. Most of the time she was very patient, but when we reached her last nerve, she gave us fussy lectures. I felt especially bad for one boy in particular because Mrs. McCaskill knew his mother. I think he was a grandnephew (she must have been in her late fifties or early sixties) of hers. Whenever he was bad, she’d say in a high-pitched whiney voice, “I’m going to talk to your mother this afternoon. You’d better show respect to your elders.” She liked to sing, too. I doubt I will ever forget her voice.

In honor of Columbus Day that year, our class participated in the school-wide patriotic program. We’d gather in the lunchroom/auditorium to take our places on the risers in front of the stage. Mrs. McCaskill had to teach us how to sing, God Bless America. Oh, how I wish I had a recording of one of those rehearsals!

No matter how much time has passed, every single time I hear God Bless America, I hear Mrs. McCaskill singing and instructing.

“No, children, ‘white with FOAM, white with FOAM.’

Sorry, I just had to share this today because it’s been on my mind this July 4th.