Perseverance reveals itself when quitting would be easier.
Sometimes all it takes is one remarkable person to remind us what perseverance really looks like.
Not long ago, at a New York Islanders hockey game, the crowd was buzzing and the cameras were rolling. Then, from the tunnel, came 104-year-old World War II veteran Dominick Critelli.
He lifted his soprano saxophone and began to play the national anthem.
Critelli shows us how perseverance works.
- It’s more than endurance.
- It’s quiet strength.
- It’s showing up again and again with purpose, with grace, and with heart.
A family of support
Critelli has devoted his life to his family, his country, and his music. Along the way, his family has stood beside him.
He lives in New York and has children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
His family often accompanies him to events and has spoken proudly of his energy, gratitude, and love of music.
Critelli has said his family helps keep him young. Spending time with them, along with playing music, gives him “something to look forward to every day.”
Perhaps perseverance grows stronger when we have people beside us.
In interviews, Critelli has mentioned how his family keeps him young and that spending time with them, along with playing music, gives him “something to look forward to every day.”
Media coverage around his 104th birthday and the Islanders’ national anthem performance showed his family cheering him on from the stands.
As a young soldier, he fought at Normandy and in the Battle of the Bulge. He saw the cost of freedom up close.
Those experiences shaped him and forged the resilience that still shines in him today.
A few days ago, that strength showed up not in battle, but under the bright lights of a hockey rink. He arrived in his wheelchair steady, proud, and calm.
The same determination that once carried him through war now carried every note through the anthem.
Perseverance never stops giving
Perseverance isn’t just about surviving. It’s about continuing to give.
Continuing to share your talents long after others have stopped.
At 104, Dominick Critelli could have chosen rest.
Instead, he keeps showing up.
As the last note faded, the crowd rose to its feet, reverent, grateful, and in awe.
For just a moment, that anthem became something more, a living reminder of endurance, sacrifice, and pride.
The greatest rewards at 104
Dominick Critelli’s story is proof that perseverance doesn’t fade with age.
- It deepens.
- It matures.
- It becomes something truly beautiful, a legacy that echoes through time.
From the beaches of Normandy to the ice of Long Island, his spirit hasn’t changed.
It’s steady. It’s humble. It’s full of heart.
In a world obsessed with quick wins and instant results, he reminds us that commitment means no retreat.
Some of life’s greatest rewards come simply because we keep going.
Keep showing up.
Keep giving.
Stories like this are part of the reflections I write about living fully, finding joy, and making life count, which you can explore on my About Stephen Blaising page.
Hay Steve. Love this. It is so inspiring to me.
Benjamin Hardaway
Thanks for your comment Benjamin. It was so inspiring to me that I started playing my sax again after laying off for a year! Maybe we should do some Christmas duets next December.