{"id":36702,"date":"2025-11-12T02:18:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T02:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/36702\/"},"modified":"2025-11-12T02:18:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T02:18:09","slug":"veterans-share-stories-gratitude-over-free-lunch-at-staten-island-eatery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/36702\/","title":{"rendered":"Veterans share stories, gratitude over free lunch at Staten Island eatery"},"content":{"rendered":"

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. \u2014 On Veterans Day, O\u2019Neill\u2019s Public House in Port Richmond became more than a neighborhood eatery\u2014it turned into a gathering place for gratitude, camaraderie, and reflection. Owned by Mike Regan and his family, the restaurant welcomed veterans and their families with its annual complimentary lunch, a gesture that resonated deeply with those who served.<\/p>\n

\"O'Neill'sO\u2019Neill\u2019s honored veterans with camaraderie and lunch on Nov. 11, 2025. (Advance\/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)<\/p>\n

\u201cMike is one-of-a-kind on Staten Island\u2014probably half the East Coast,\u201d said Dave Anderson, a Vietnam veteran who served in the Air Force. \u201cHe really appreciates veterans. It comes from the heart with him. Many members of his family served, and you can tell by the way he treats us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anderson and his wife, Lilia, have been dining at O\u2019Neill\u2019s for years. The couple lives just around the corner in Port Richmond, making the pub a convenient favorite. \u201cMike runs as good a restaurant as anybody,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been on Staten Island a long time, and we\u2019ve always enjoyed coming here.\u201d He added that he wishes the St. Patrick\u2019s Day and Memorial Day parades \u201ccame down this way.\u201d But they never reach Port Richmond.<\/p>\n

\"O'Neill'sInside joke? Kind of. The DD-214\u2014often called \u201cAmerica\u2019s official man card\u201d\u2014is the discharge document that proves military service and unlocks veteran benefits.(Advance\/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)<\/p>\n

Anderson added, \u201cIt\u2019s great having a place like this in the neighborhood, especially now that it\u2019s harder for us to get around.\u201d<\/p>\n

The vet reflected on his long connection to Staten Island. \u201cI graduated from Richmond College and later taught at CSI until the fiscal crisis in the \u201970s. Staten Island has always been home.\u201d Despite mobility challenges, he said the day was special: \u201cIt was great to have such an enjoyable afternoon. Mike does a great job for the veterans. It really means something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"O'Neill'sMarine and Navy vets unite over lunch at O’Neill’s for good food and shop talk.(Advance\/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)A Menu Made for Comfort\u2014and Celebration<\/p>\n

The lunch began with a choice of soup or salad, followed by hearty entr\u00e9es like cheeseburger, penne alla vodka, shepherd\u2019s pie, corned beef, grilled chicken sandwich, shrimp scampi, chicken francese, Philly cheesesteak or grilled cheese with bacon and tomato. Each meal came with a beverage \u2014 coffee, tea, soda, juice or even a glass of wine or beer \u2014 adding to the sense of celebration.<\/p>\n

For many, the event was more than a meal. It was a chance to reconnect, share stories, and honor the sacrifices that shaped their lives.<\/p>\n

\"O'Neill'sMarine veteran Tom Wortmann Navy veteran Timothy Forsyth learned about the Veterans Day lunch at O\u2019Neill\u2019s through Facebook groups.(Advance\/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)\u201cIt\u2019s nice to see people remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anderson attended with Lilia, his partner of nearly 54 years. The couple held hands throughout lunch, a simple gesture that spoke volumes about resilience and enduring love. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to see people remember,\u201d Anderson said softly, as Lilia smiled beside him.<\/p>\n

Tim Forsyth, a 66-year-old Navy vet from Westerleigh, and Tom Wortmann, a Marine veteran from Meiers Corners discovered the event through Facebook group chats. \u201cWe decided to give O\u2019Neill\u2019s a try since they\u2019re so supportive of veterans,\u201d Forsyth said, pointing to complimentary wine and beverages on the menu\u2014a perk that sealed the deal.<\/p>\n

For Wortmann, the day stirred memories of a life transformed by service. \u201cI was thrown out of high school with no future,\u201d he recalled. \u201cAfter four years in the service, I came out with a high school diploma, six college credits, and some backbone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"O'Neill'sStaff wore patriotic shirts and savored the spirit of the day. (Advance\/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)<\/p>\n

That foundation led him to a 38-year career with New York Telephone, one of the few companies hiring Vietnam veterans at the time. \u201cWhen I came home, nobody wanted to hire us,\u201d Wortmann said. \u201cA guy at the VA told us, \u2018Go to AT&T\u2014they\u2019ll hire anybody.\u2019 Within 20 minutes, we were lined up on Madison Avenue. That job gave me a future.\u201d<\/p>\n

He eventually moved to Staten Island in 1970, attended CSI at night for six years, earned his degree, and met his wife. \u201cPeople say, \u2018Thank you for your service,\u2019 but I didn\u2019t join for them \u2014 I joined for me. It was the best thing I ever did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Forsyth echoed that sentiment. \u201cEverything I\u2019ve done in life, I owe to the service,\u201d he said. \u201cIt gave me purpose, discipline, and the ability to start a family. I served 30 years in the Navy and Navy Reserve \u2014 at sea, in the desert, in the jungle. I must say I enjoyed every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Community That Remembers<\/p>\n

For O\u2019Neill\u2019s, hosting the event was about more than food \u2014 it was about creating a space where veterans feel seen and appreciated. In a world where gratitude often comes in passing phrases, a hot meal and a warm welcome spoke louder than words.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Neill\u2019s atmosphere matched the occasion, radiating old-world charm with high-back booths, cantilever tables, and rich woodwork crafted by Staten Island artisan James Daluise. Overhead, vintage-style lamps cast a soft, homey glow that made the space feel timeless.<\/p>\n

As plates were cleared and conversations lingered, the sentiment was clear: service shapes lives long after uniforms are tucked away. And on this Veterans Day, in a cozy corner of Port Richmond, those stories were honored \u2014 one meal at a time.<\/p>\n

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