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.
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.
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Leslie Wiggins 
2 responses to “Music for Saturday: A walk down patriotic memory lane”
I had a teacher like that too…well, one that I remember well. She used to play the guitar and she was kind of a hippy. But we all loved her.
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Ah, the days when we could celebrate Columbus Day…
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