Make New York Post a Preferred Source He’s a national treasure.
A beloved 105-year-old World War II Army veteran who went viral for thrilling Islanders-Rangers fans with his stellar saxophone rendition of the national anthem once again had crowds roaring at the Elmont team’s home opener against the New Jersey Devils Saturday.
“What this country has done for me, no other country in the world could do — and I mean that,” Long Island centenarian Dominick Critelli told The Post.
“I love the USA, and I wouldn’t change it,” he said.
The Floral Park super senior’s encore at UBS Arena came after his start turn there last December, when he delivered a performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” that drew rave reviews from fans of the rival hockey teams.
He did it again Saturday night, uniting Islanders and New Jersey fans at the game, when he was honored as the game veteran and given a jersey with the number 105 by Isles alum Butch Goring.
But Critelli has long been an inspiration. French President Emmanuel Macron knighted him in 2024 for his role in helping liberate the country from Nazi occupation, as the flight mechanic survived the Normandy landings at Utah Beach.
He later played a pivotal role, flying 14 death-defying supply and medicine drops behind enemy lines for stranded soldiers during the infamous Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes Forest of Belgium.
“We saved a lot of lives,” said Critelli, who was a teacher and also built houses after the war.
The Air Medal and three time Bronze Star recipient was such an exemplary soldier that a close friend and ranking officer implored him to re-enlist for another four years, promising a promotion to officer.
But Critelli knew it was time to change tunes and come home to his family.
He continued performing his jazz specialties stateside for troops and other audiences after combat, well into his golden years — including a September show at a physical therapy facility that treated him for a recent leg injury.
“I’ll be alright,” Critelli said of the wound, exuding confidence with his temporary walker and a regular glass of red wine that may be the secret to his longevity.
Born in 1921, he came to America from Calabria, Italy, as an 8-year-old and fell in in love with music at age 13. Critelli, who recalled being enamored with the Statue of Liberty while en route to Ellis Island, said he was grateful he wasn’t “stuck” with Mussolini on the wrong side of history.
An NYU-trained musician before WWII, Critelli brought a saxophone overseas, becoming a favorite at troop dances and VIP speeches with his uplifting musical talents while deployed in Europe.
Sure, it was an honor to play twice at Islanders games to thunderous applause, but nothing will ever compare to the staff sergeant’s biggest show — when he performed on top of a tank to thousands of newly liberated civilians in the Netherlands toward the war’s end.
“I’ll tell you, those people are very thankful to us for what we did for them,” said Critelli, who still has his wartime saxophone at home near Belmont Park and keeps sheet music for “The Star Spangled Banner” beside his bed.
The proud patriot’s life story — which has been amplified on the global stage since he took to the ice around Christmas 2025 — has become such a hit that schools call on Critelli to speak and play for high schoolers.
“Every day people call me — ‘will you please talk to my kids?’” Critelli said, adding he “could never say no to kids.”
“I talk about the freedom of speech, and the kids come over with papers and pencils, and they start writing — they’re listening,” said Critelli, who opens with a tune to get the students engaged.
“Then I’ll go through the other freedoms we have here. They clap and have a good time.”
Playing at the Isles games gave Critelli a taste of stardom that gets him giddy — especially thinking about his own rehearsal room at UBS Arena “with my name on the door in brass.”
But Critelli puts his love for America and stories past in the spotlight for truly selfless reasons.
“The people left behind — they couldn’t talk the way I do, couldn’t do what I do,” he said.
