​"How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?"

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American composer Aaron Copland once said, "Music can be a weapon in the battle for a free world.”

I learned this truth while sitting at the hospice piano where music is a voice for those who can’t speak. The song residents request most is Scott Joplin’s The Entertainer. Once its lively melody drifts down the hall, families recognize it and gather into the common area. Some residents smile, some close their eyes, and some just listen. But one thing is for sure: Music is a memory that will never fade.

To me, that is patriotism. The way one ragtime tune can connect us—no matter our age or background—reminds me that love for our country begins with love for its people.

Every weekend, I volunteer in hospice and assisted living centers. Some days, I play piano for the residents, especially those who can no longer speak but still remember the music of their lives. Other days, I simply sit and talk with them, listening to their stories, their worries, or sometimes just their silence. Many are veterans who once served overseas. Some tell me about the friends they lost. Others just smile when I play familiar songs.

One patient, Mr. Bernard, shared his experiences with Agent Orange. As he spoke, his voice trembled, and I could see the tears in his eyes. He told me about his regrets, his dreams, and the weight he carried long after leaving the battlefield.

 

Through these quiet moments, I honor their lives, not by celebrating battle, but by offering peace.

For those who can’t speak, I play. For those who can speak, I listen.
In that, I’ve learned what it means to serve my country in my own way: by helping every citizen feel safe, valued, and remembered.

And my version of patriotism doesn’t stop with the elderly. During the week, I teach dance classes for children with Down syndrome at GiGi’s Playhouse. We start each class in a circle to remind ourselves that community has no corners. When kids feel left out, I turn up the music and remind them, “We move best when we move together.” Creating unity when people feel divided? That too is patriotism. 

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As the child of immigrants, I’ve watched my parents work tirelessly to build a life here. Their journey wasn’t easy; it was full of language barriers, long hours of studying, and quiet sacrifices. But they never complained. They just kept on going. That taught me that loving your country doesn’t always mean being opinionated and loud. Sometimes it looks like giving back and believing in the promise of the American Dream.

That same love for this country is what takes me outdoors, too. Since I was eight and wearing hot pink twinkle toes shoes, I’ve been collecting badges and becoming a junior park ranger from every national park I visit. My favorites are Zion, Yellowstone, Petrified Forest, and the Grand Canyon. Each one reminds me of the beauty and vastness of this nation, and our shared responsibility to protect it. Not littering, preserving trails, respecting wildlife… those aren’t just good habits… They’re how I say thank you to the land that holds all of us together.
Caring for this land and its people is the quietest, truest form of love for our country.