World War II veteran receives ovation for Brewers game performance
Sverre Vinje, 102, sang “God Bless America” during the seventh inning of Milwaukee’s game against Cincinnati.
Sverre Vinje, a 102-year-old US Navy World War II veteran, received a large ovation after singing “God Bless America” during the seventh inning of the Milwaukee Brewers’ game against the Cincinnati Reds on 11 September.
The performance came during a game reported as a 20–0 Brewers victory and a playoff-clinching result. Vinje’s appearance became a major moment for the crowd alongside the game’s on-field performance.
Vinje is a resident of Rockford, Illinois, and has previously sung the song at sporting events, including Rockford IceHogs games. His hometown held a surprise birthday celebration for him in June.
WIFR in Rockford reported that Vinje served at the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He told the station that he enlisted after hearing about the attack on Pearl Harbor.
