John Philip Sousa

John Philip SousaElmer Chickering [Public domain] Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JohnPhilipSousa-Chickering.LOC.jpg

My essay is about a distant cousin of mine, John Philip Sousa. He was born in Washington, D.C. on March 6, 1892.

John Philip Sousa always liked music. In fact, one morning when 13-year-old John was playing his violin, a circus director walked by and was impressed. He knocked on the door and was ready to hire Sousa on the spot for the circus band. John wanted to ask his dad, but the manager told him to just write a letter telling how much he liked the circus. John said yes, dreaming he would one day be the leader of the whole band. He waited for the director to come back the next day.

Young John was so excited, he told a neighbor who later told the dad. The next day his father took him to the Marine Corps and enlisted him instead of allowing him to join the circus. John Sousa was then the leader of the Marine Corps band for 12 years.

He is a hero because he inspired people with his music and kept going no matter what. Although he didn’t become the leader of the circus band, he became a great leader in other areas. He is my hero because he inspires me in my music. I play the recorder, saxophone, piano, violin, and the accordion.

John Philip Sousa was a small, insignificant person, but he became someone of importance.