A 104-year-old World War II veteran left audiences deeply moved on Saturday night with his captivating saxophone rendition of the National Anthem.
According to Mediaite, Dominick Critelli, a veteran of the Normandy landings and the Battle of the Bulge, performed the Star-Spangled Banner just before the New York Islanders faced off against the New York Rangers at UBS Arena. The crowd erupted into a patriotic chant of "USA! USA!" as Critelli impressively sustained the final note for nearly 15 seconds.
In a conversation with the New York Post prior to his performance, Critelli shared his journey from Calabria, Italy, to the United States, expressing his gratitude by saying, "I love this country. If I hadnt come to this country, Id be stuck with Mussolini."
Critelli's military service, which spanned 151 days of combat, earned him numerous accolades, including the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars.
Recently, Critelli was honored by French President Emmanuel Macron, who knighted him. Reflecting on the ceremony, Critelli humorously recounted, "He pins a medal on me, kisses me on both cheeks. And I ask, If Im a knight, wheres my sword and horse?"
Social media users were equally enchanted by Critelli's stirring performance, which resonated with many.
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