SALISBURY — Neal Wilkinson, the Salisbury tenor who has sung in many big sports venues over the years, is among those chosen to sing the national anthem at this year’s American Legion World Series in Shelby.

The anthem is sung before every game of the national baseball tournament. Wilkinson will sing at the 4 p.m. Aug. 18 game.

“I’m excited about it,” Wilkinson said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

The city of Shelby has been host for the Legion World Series since 2011. This year’s tournament will be Aug. 15-20 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium, where Shelby High School plays baseball.

The field underwent $2.8 million in upgrades in 2013.

“They have built one heck of a baseball facility,” Wilkinson said of what the community has done to become the home for the World Series.

The always busy Wilkinson also sang the national anthem during Faith’s Fourth of July celebration.

While the national anthem has become a specialty, Wilkinson also is known for his performances in local productions and at numerous community programs through the years.

Wilkinson used connections he made through his longtime participation in the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association program, formerly held in Salisbury, to land opportunities to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in several Major League Baseball stadiums.

Wilkinson has sung the national anthem at baseball games in Fenway Park in Boston, Camden Yards in Baltimore, the old Shea Stadium in New York, Banc One Ballpark in Phoenix and the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

In addition, Wilkinson provided his respectful version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Atlantic Coast Conference basketball games, minor league hockey games, minor league baseball games, Arena Football and NASCAR events.

He also has sung at national bass fishing tournaments on Lake Wylie, an international business show in Las Vegas and for the National Association of State Park Directors in Boise, Idaho, which led to singing engagements in Wichita, Kansas, and Williamsburg, Virginia.

His biggest anthem audience may have been live at a Busch race at then Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, which included a worldwide television audience and 160,000 people in the stands.

On many occasions for more than 25 years, Wilkinson has sung the national anthem at Newman Park for Rowan County American Legion baseball games.

Wilkinson is a senior quality systems auditor for NTA, based in Nappanee, Indiana. He’s part of an oversight agency that goes into manufacturing facilities, pulls quality assurance and work records, and makes sure they are complying as needed.

Since high school and college, Wilkinson has remained involved in the FFA, judging contests on local, state and national levels; training contest teams; becoming a lifetime alumni member; attending a few national conventions; and working with and supporting FFA programs at South Rowan, West Rowan and East Rowan high schools.

Last October, he received the Honorary American FFA Degree at the 91st National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis.

Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263.