Fire Drill

Remember fire drills?  Air raid drills?  The early 60's were a troublesome time for our country.  The Soviets had moved missiles to Cuba and there was a threat of nuclear war.  We took bottles to school to fill with water in case of a disaster.  We learned how to crouch down under our desks in case of an attack.  Surprisingly, I do not recall any fear.  I guess I was too young to appreciate the magnitude of the struggle.

Using a selection method that I cannot remember, children were given roles as Captains in the Fire Patrol.  I believe that the job, as Captain, was to lead the line of children out of the classroom during a drill (or the real thing, for that matter).  At some point during my stay at Sinclair, I was a Captain.  In that position, I wore a badge--a coveted honor.  The badge shown above has been in my keepsakes box for roughly forty years.