A 96-year-old World War II known as “Harmonica Pete” impressed a crowd of NBA fans ahead of Veterans Day with his harmonica rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
Pete DuPré delivered his harmonica performance during a Sunday basketball game between Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks, CNN reported.
A video of the performance shared by ESPN garnered a viral response with more than 50,000 views, thousands more likes and hundreds of comments in support of the performance.
96 year-old World War II veteran Pete DuPré played the national anthem on his harmonica before the Knicks game Sunday 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/hwoVs8F9C1
— ESPN (@espn) November 11, 2019
According to Good Morning America, Knicks player RJ Barrett presented DuPré with a customized Knicks harmonica prior to the game. DuPré could be seen in a World War II veterans cap and wearing a Knicks jersey during his performance.
DuPré reportedly enlisted in the Army at the age of 17 after both of his parents passed away. He went on to serve as a medic in the United States Army 114th General Hospital Unit in Kidderminster, England. DuPré served some three years overseas where treated wounded service members during the war.
The latest performance was one of several by DuPré in recent years.
In May he rendered his harmonica performance at a Memorial Day soccer game between the U.S. women’s national team and Mexico. The U.S. team, playing at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., won the match 3-0.
The U.S. team revealed they had met DuPré while touring Normandy, France.
During his harmonica performance, DuPré wore a USA soccer shirt. He tipped his customary World War II veterans cap to the women’s team before performing the national anthem.
After the May soccer match, DuPré reportedly met with and hugged each member of the soccer teams before they boarded their bus to leave the match.
DuPré also performed the national anthem during a September NFL game between the Oakland Raiders and the Minnesota Vikings.
