On Thursday, Oct. 22, the Chicago Bears will return home to Soldier Field for the first time since Oct. 4 when it takes on the New England Patriots at 8:15 p.m. to kick off the Week 7 NFL slate.
During that game, the Bears organization is planning on honoring former tight end and head coach Mike Ditka, who died on Oct. 9, just over a week before his 87th birthday.
As the organization recognizes Ditka, fellow Beaver County native Wilbur Pauley will get a chance to pay tribute not only to the former tight end and coach but also to the country by singing the U.S. national anthem ahead of the game.
More: Aliquippa native and Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka dies at 86
The Beaver native has been one of the Bears’ anthem singers for 14 seasons alongside Jim Cornelison.
Along with singing The Star-Spangled Banner at Bears games, Pauley has spent a career as a professional singer, singing abroad in operas in Portugal, Scotland, and Argentina, as well as in the U.S. in New York, Houston, Santa Fe, San Francisco and Chicago.
This is the second time that Pauley will have a local connection to his hometown while singing the national anthem at Soldier Field, as he also got the assignment when the Bears hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers back in 2017.
Ethan Morrison is the sports reporter for the Beaver County Times. Contact him at emorrison@usatodayco.com and follow him at EthanMorrison26 on X.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Beaver native Wilbur Pauley to sing national anthem as Chicago Bears honor Mike Ditka