Ponte Vecchio Restaurant
Brooklyn NY
31 AUG 2025
17:15 hours local
Jamie and Sydney walked into the private dinning room with their children and Danny in tow.
Three round tables each seating five diners had been loosely grouped together in a triangle.
As she approached Sydney couldn't help but comment: "I just witnessed the Sergeant Major give my son a lesson in chivalry and it was incredible" She joyfully exclaimed.
"Yeah, as soon as Marine Corps Recruit Depot Danny is set up, she wants to send Fitz for a week or two" Jamie laughed.
"More like until he's old enough to enlist" Sydney added drawing laughs from the other adults.
After hugs, kisses, and greetings were exchanged by all, Erin suggested the seating arrangements: "Let's keep the marines and the brothers together. Danny, as the guest of dishonor, you draw the center table" She teased. "Alexa, how about you, Wills, Fitz, and your brothers take the one to your Uncle's left and Nicky, Mary, and us three gals will take the one to the right" She concluded.
Once everyone was seated, Frank rose and held out his wine glass.
"Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking" Jamie began.
"As Teddy Roosevelt so wisely put it so many years ago" Erin followed.
"To me personally" Joe continued.
"Ingrates" Frank responded before continuing.
"In all seriousness, I would like to propose a toast, to my eldest son, my first born. Had you not departed Brooklyn in such haste 35 years ago, I would have bestowed upon you this ancient Gaelic blessing. 'May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand'."
"We are all so fortunate that God did hold you in his palm, that he protected you, and that he blessed all here with your return. The day that I signed your waiver giving you my permission to join the Marines at age 17, you told me that maybe along the way you would earn a few stripes. I think that we are all in agreement that you earned every stripe that the Marine Corps can award one of its own, Sergeant Major Reagan.
You have honored this family with your service and by your accomplishments you have made each of us proud. And you have more than done your duty. Therefore, it is my wish for you that you find peace, happiness, and fulfillment in all the days to come. Semper Fidelis son."
"Semper Fidelis Sergeant Major Reagan" Everyone chorused.
"Semper Fidelis" Danny toasted back.
"Speech, Speech" Jamie and Joe cried out.
"Yeah, yeah, okay" Danny humored his brothers.
Danny stood up and looked around. "This morning, I took a final look around my quarters at Marine Barracks Washington D.C. and realized that my time in the Corps was at an end. I had spent two thirds of my life as a Marine, and two thirds of my life away from home. The thought hit me that while I will never be a man without a country, that I was about to become a man without a family. I couldn't have been more wrong. I want to thank Joe for picking me up and using our drive home to straighten me out, and to all of you, but most especially Jamie, for welcoming me back into our family. Finally, I want to thank my sister, and my brothers and sisters-in-law for giving me the best nieces and nephews that an old Marine could ask for, they make me feel young again" He concluded.
"Here Here" Frank stated followed by everyone else.
And with that, dinner was served where upon different conversations and stories were told.
Following dessert, Nicky and Mary pulled their chairs over and joined Wills and their cousins leaving Erin, Angie, and Sydney to their girl talk.
As the men discussed politics, the military, and the NYPD, one by one Frank, Henry, Joe, and Jamie looked over to see Erin, Angie, and Sydney huddled together in deep conversation, the occasional excited utterance or giggle erupting. Danny was oblivious to it so Henry let out a laugh drawing his eldest grandson's attention.
"What's funny gramps?" Danny inquired where upon Henry jerked his head to the left in the direction of the women's table. "See for yourself" He replied.
Danny looked over but nothing seemed out of place to him.
Frank chuckled next drawing the same inquiry so he replied: "You don't know what they're talking about, do you?" He asked.
"How can I know what they're talking about when I'm over here and they're over there, it's not like I can hear them." He responded.
This brought laughs from either side of him as his brothers looked over and got the picture their obtuse brother failed to notice.
"Okay you two, what's going on?" He heatedly asked.
"You really don't know what those hens are squawking about do you?" Joe inquired.
"If I did, I wouldn't be asking, now would I?" Danny retorted.
Jamie began busting a gut that drew Erin's attention. "What's so funny over there?" She demanded.
"Just some Marine humor" Henry replied temporarily satiating his granddaughter's curiosity.
"Will somebody tell me what's going on, please?" Danny begged.
Joe looked over at Jamie. "Let the golden boy tell you before he shits his pants laughing."
Danny looked at Jamie. "Well?" He exasperatedly asked.
"You really are clueless, aren't you?" Jamie asked.
"He's pathetic" Joe uttered.
"Enlighten me" Danny demanded.
"They are talking about you" Jamie giggled.
"What about me?" He asked.
"Who they can set you up with, what else?" Joe asked.
"Are you really that dense that you can't see that for yourself?" Henry laughed while Frank raised his eyebrows at his son.
"Erin and Sydney know a lot of single lawyers, judges, and politicians" Jamie noted.
"A judge is just a lawyer who knows a politician" Henry guffawed.
"Angie knows a lot of doctors, clinicians,….. nurses" He stated drawing the last word out.
"No way, nobody is setting me up, I have no intention of being…"
"Snared" Henry quipped.
"Domesticated" Frank giggled.
"Tamed" Jamie chuckled.
"Gelded" Joe deadpanned, earning a death glare from his brother and a chorus of laughs from the other three men.
This time it was Angie: "Okay, what is so funny and don't tell us it's Danny's war stories"
"Yeah, spill" Erin demanded.
"Oh, we're just discussing Danny's future, and what his plans may be" Joe replied.
"Or more accurately, what your plans for him may be" Jamie laughed.
"Danny likes being a wild stallion and has no wish for you three to fix him up. He knows that will only lead to his eventual gelding" Joe informed them.
"Will you shut up already about gelding" Danny demanded.
"Yeah Joe, give him a break. It's only natural that the Sergeant Major wants to keep his privates, first class and all" Henry chuckled where upon Frank lost it and began giggling so loud the waiter came in and asked him to please tone it down.
"Sorry" He chuckled.
Danny leaned his elbows onto the table and buried his face in his hands. "I wonder if I can reenlist" He said to himself.
"Nope, once you've achieved your rank, you can't go back. Your four years as SMMC are up and you're out" Frank informed him.
"Unless you want to re-up as an officer" Henry stated.
"I'd rather be gelded" Danny exclaimed.
"It just so happens I know the perfect woman for Danny" Angie informed them.
"I have a couple of women in mind as well. Single, successful, gorgeous!" Sydney exclaimed.
"While I wouldn't wish my brother on anyone, I am concerned that his remaining single and free to do as he pleases is going to lead to trouble" Erin began.
"What you mean to say is that the idea of Danny not being bossed around by a member of your sex really pisses you off" Joe corrected his sister.
"Joseph" Angie warned.
"That being said" Erin continued while giving Joe the stink eye, "I happen know a prosecutor who could more than keep him in line".
Joe and Jamie each put an arm around their brother.
"It isn't so bad Danny, you sorta kind of get used to it, after a few years" Jamie noted.
Joe shook his head: "We have to put this in terms that a grizzled marine can relate to. Think of it this way Dan, marriage is a lot like boot camp with three major differences. 1.) It never ends; 2.) You have the same Drill Instructor the entire time, and 3.) If you comply with her demands, she will on those very rare and special occasions, reward you with sex" Joe deadpanned drawing another chorus of laughs.
"I heard that Joseph Conor Reagan" Angie exclaimed.
"Good to know sweetums" Joe replied knowing that this time he had definitely stepped in it.
"I mean, look around this table" Jamie began.
"Yeah Dan, every one of us has taken the plunge" Joe followed
"One day it's going to be your turn and after a couple of good years, you'll find that you've landed in the same place as every other married guy, which is, how did they phrase it in the Corps Pops?" Frank inquired.
"In the thick of the shit" Henry laughed as Danny lowered his head and began banging his forehead on the table.