Last week, the Buffalo Sabres opened their NHL season at the KeyBank Centre against the Montreal Canadiens. The stadium was full with almost 20,000 fans ready for action. One such fan included Marian Morreale, a 94-year-old World War II veteran with one leg, as one year prior her left one had to be amputated.
But this did not stop her from actively embracing the national anthem at the event. In fact, Marian had been practicing for three months in anticipation. So, when the sounds of the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ could be heard, Marian, with the help of her daughter Joan Brechtel, joined the crowd and stood tall. “I won’t be able to put my arm across my heart,” she explained beforehand. “I’m on one leg, and I have to hang on to my walker.”
In an interview, Marian says that she joined the coast guard at the age of 20. “You learn discipline, you learn to take orders with a smile, and you learn who to keep company with. People judge who you are by your associates,” she said. “I tell my grandkids that the Coast Guard ‘grew me up.’”
Joan admits that her mother sometimes gets emotional during the singing of the national anthem, but on this magical occurrence, she stood proudly with a big smile on her face. Shortly after singing, Marian was taken home to rest. “She doesn’t have enough energy to stay,” Joan said. “She is 94.”
Give this soul-enriching video a watch, and let us know your thoughts in the comments. We believe that Marian is an absolute inspiration and we’re completely impressed with the respect she has put forward toward her country and the NHL Buffalo Sabres. If you agree, be sure to like and share this video with your family and friends.
