104 year old WW2 Veteran performs National Anthem at NHL game

This is a better performance of the National Anthem than many of the famous "artist" who have performed it at Superbowls and other major sporting events! This guy is amazing. Well worth a few minutes to listen.


The New York Islanders are known for bringing in strong performers for the national anthem, and Saturday night before their game against the New York Rangers at the UBS Arena was no exception.

Dominick Critelli, a 104-year-old World War II veteran, took the ice in a blue Islanders jersey and performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" with his saxophone. The crowd erupted into "U-S-A" chants after he was finished.

Critelli, a staff sergeant who immigrated to the U.S. from Italy when he was a child, spent 151 days in combat in World War II. He flew behind enemy lines to deliver supplies to American troops, according to NHL.com.

He earned prestigious honors for his time in the military. He was awarded the "European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars, the American Theater Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, and a Good Conduct Medal," the NHL said. He also survived the Battle of the Bulge and the landings at Normandy.

"I love this country," he told the New York Post before his rendition. "If I hadn’t come to this country, I’d be stuck with Mussolini."

Good stuff right there.

Amazing! His lungs are in better shape than mine, & I'm less than 1/2 his age

A Truly great performance.

Awesome!

That made my day.

God bless brother!

Lots of pollen in my office today.

Nice chops!

That was beautiful! Thanks for posting this!

And on a soprano saxophone.

Don't see those everyday.

More details on his service to the Country -

https://www.missionmargratenpl...minick-critelli.html

Dominick Critelli
Born: March 8, 1921
US Army; Staff Sergeant, Tec-5, Service # 326101028, 95th Infantry Division, 378th, 2nd Battalion, 479th Field Artillery Regiment, Artillery Aviation Units

Dominick Critelli was was in the 95th Infantry Division, a member of the 378th Infantry Regiment in an Artillery Aviation Unit. It was his job to keep his Unit’s aircraft flying intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. His Unit identified and observed enemy troop formations, their supply lines, ammunition depots, and the location of enemy fortifications.

In the winter of 1944, Hitler launched his last offensive of the War. The battle would soon be known as the “Battle of the Bulge.” General Patton, with Dominick’s Artillery Aviation Unit wheeled his 3rd Army a sharp 90 degrees and raced north one hundred miles with 200,000 men and less than 250 tanks to rescue the 80,000 encircled American troops in Bastogne. General Patton’s strategy pushed the German Army east, across the Rhine.

In November 1944, Mr. Critelli was one of the brave men from the 378th Regiment to fly behind enemy lines to drop much needed supplies to isolated American troops stuck on the enemy side of a bridgehead. Over a four-day period, Dominick flew fourteen of these missions precisely dropping supplies to isolated American positions. Several dozen bullet holes pierced the wings as he dropped the much-needed supplies and medicine next to our troops. His heroic and meritorious service earned him the Air Medal.

Mr. Dominick Critelli spent 151 days in combat, and also earned, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars, the American Theater Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, a Good Conduct Medal.

All that and he can still fire up the crowd by playing his saxophone at age 104. They didnt call them the "greatest generation" for nothing

That was fantastic! Thanks for posting!

Just incredible. God Bless this gentleman.

Wonderful!