104‑Year‑Old Veteran Dominick Critelli to Play National Anthem for Islanders Game
Floral Park, New York – At 104, Dominick Critelli is still hitting high notes, both on the saxophone and in life. He will perform the national anthem for the New York Islanders versus New Jersey Rangers game at UBS Arena on Saturday, adding another milestone to his impressive record.
Critelli, who immigrated to the United States from a modest upbringing in Calabria, Italy, recalls his early life with an affection for his adopted country. “I love this country,” he told reporters. “If I hadn’t come to this country, I’d be stuck with Mussolini.”
The veteran musician maintains his longevity with a nightly half‑glass of wine. He recently received a Knight’s Cross from French President Emmanuel Macron for his role in liberating France during World War II. The honor came decades after surviving the Normandy landings and the Battle of the Bulge.
When the accolade was presented, Critelli laughed about the pomp: “He pins a medal on me, kisses me on both cheeks,” he recalled. “And I ask, ‘If I’m a knight, where’s my sword and horse?’”
An accomplished jazz player, Critelli earned a music degree from NYU before leaving for Europe to fight the Axis powers. In his early eighties, he still keeps his musical passion alive. When he plays before a sell‑out crowd, he says it’s a different experience than the larger crowds he’s seen in his wartime career.
During the Dutch liberation, Critelli joined a rolling tank and performed for a crowd estimated at fifty‑to‑sixty thousand jubilant citizens. “It’s amazing, I’ve gone through so much,” he reflected.
Critelli’s saxophone rendition of the anthem promises to be a fitting tribute to his lifetime of service and artistry.
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