In a moment that stirred the soul and reminded Americans of the unshakable spirit that built this nation, 104-year-old WWII veteran Staff Sergeant Dominick Critelli stepped onto the ice at UBS Arena and delivered a stunning saxophone rendition of the National Anthem before a sold-out crowd of 17,000 hockey fans. Clad in a custom Islanders jersey bearing the number 104, Critelli didn’t just play the anthem—he owned it.
As Islanders and Rangers fans stood united, hands over hearts, voices rising to join in the Star-Spangled Banner, the emotion was unmistakable. It was pride. It was patriotism. It was reverence—not only for the flag, but for the man playing in its honor. In that moment, the ice rink became a cathedral of American gratitude.
Critelli, an Army veteran who served as an aircraft mechanic during World War II with the 95th Infantry Division Headquarters Battery, fought at Normandy and in the Battle of the Bulge.
He spent over 150 days in active combat, earning some of the highest decorations a serviceman can receive, including the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars, and the Legion of Honor from France. He even went behind enemy lines to deliver supplies to stranded American troops—a mission that likely saved countless lives.
104 year old World War 2 Veteran Dominick Critelli performed the National Anthem on the saxophone at tonight’s game! pic.twitter.com/m0v0WT6L2Y
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) December 28, 2025
And yet, even after helping liberate Europe, even after being honored by the President of France, Critelli stood proudly this weekend, saxophone in hand, to remind a younger generation what love of country really looks like.
In a time where the anthem has often been politicized or treated with indifference—especially in the nearly ten years since Colin Kaepernick first refused to stand—Critelli’s performance felt like a cultural correction. No kneeling, no protests—just raw, unapologetic patriotism. The kind that echoes across generations.
When he hit the final note, the arena erupted with chants of “USA! USA!” It wasn’t just about the song. It was about who was playing it. A man who’s seen the cost of freedom up close, who fought for the very right to stand and sing. And sing they did—with pride, not protest.
In a pre-game interview, Critelli recalled once performing on top of a rolling army tank after the Netherlands was freed from Nazi rule. That crowd was 60,000 strong. Now, eight decades later, this lifelong New Yorker is still making music, still commanding audiences, and still reminding us of the timeless values that bind a nation.
