Tattoo #4 -United States of America: From the Bronx to the World

After an unforgettable summer, it was time to return to New York and finish my business degree. This season of life felt like both a return and a launch — the kind of full-circle moment only time can create. And for this next chapter of my journey, I knew it was time to get tattoo number four: a tribute to the United States.

Why New York?

I chose New York to represent the entire country on my body for a straightforward reason. I was born in the Bronx. My roots are in this city. My college years in New York were some of my glory days. I knew even back then that I was living in the middle of the “good ol’ days.” Between late-night food runs, life-changing conversations, and unforgettable classes, I made friends who remain lifetime connections.

Those years were funded by my GI Bill benefits, earned through five years of active duty service in the U.S. Marine Corps. I was living life as a student veteran, working toward a new chapter while carrying everything the military had taught (and taken from) me.

The Design: A Tattoo Like a Bracelet

I don’t remember precisely how the idea for this tattoo came to me. Maybe it was from wearing watches or nightclub bracelets, but I knew I wanted a bracelet-style tattoo. It had to fit the arm cleanly, not just symbolically but aesthetically too.

So, what better design to wrap around my wrist than the New York City skyline?

Getting Inked at King’s Avenue Tattoo

For this tattoo, I chose to go to King’s Avenue Tattoo. Why that shop? Honestly, I don’t even remember why. Maybe I was feeling like royalty after that wild summer. But what I do remember is how helpful the artist was. He helped me keep the continuity going — all three of my previous tattoos were on my right arm, and this one fit right in.

The artist made a smart move, suggesting I place it so I could still wear a watch while showing off the skyline. That detail stuck with me. Years later, I used the exact placement for tattoos in the Philippines and Vietnam on my left arm—a subtle nod to the USA piece that started that idea.

What the Tattoo Means to Me Now

At the time, I didn’t think too deeply about the meaning. The “est. 1993” text was just a way to mark my birth year. But in hindsight, this tattoo means so much more.

The New York skyline doesn’t just symbolize a city. To me, it represents everything about the United States. Its ideals, its history, and its current reality. I was only a year or two out of the Marine Corps when I got this tattoo. I had served five intense years. I had seen behind the curtain. And during that process, my view of patriotism changed.

By the time the ink dried, I knew one thing for sure: I wouldn’t live in this country long-term.

The U.S. has many beautiful qualities — the Midwest, the mountains, and the freedom to reinvent yourself. But it also has enemies, power struggles, and limitations. No one is aiming nukes at Costa Rica or the Caribbean. Even when I worked a remote job years later, my company wouldn’t let me live outside the U.S., not even in St. Croix, which is technically a U.S. territory. That moment made me feel more trapped than ever.

Grateful, But Ready to Go

I grew up on a beautiful Caribbean island until my 18th birthday, when I joined the Marines. I gave my time, body, and youth to the military. And while I’m not bitter, I’m realistic. I am forever grateful for what this country has given me—education, discipline, structure, and opportunity. But I’ve only got one life. And I want to dedicate this one to freedom, growth, and peace. Not just to service.

If I had multiple lifetimes, maybe I’d use one to help America more. But since I don’t, I’ll take this lifetime and give it to myself.
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Check out the full tattoo journey from the beginning — Tattoo #1 started it all in Mumbai.
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(Link: Tattoo #1)