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The Jozsa Wedding

1/24/2026

Fr. Tom stood in the sanctuary with the bride and groom standing just inside the altar rail. “Matthew and Abigail, I will now ask you three questions.”

She stood, dressed in her mother’s wedding gown, with Matt at her side in his dress blues. She waited for the priest to continue.

“Have you come here to enter into Marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?”

“I have.” They answered together. It drew a tight smile to her face.

“Are you prepared, as you follow the path of Marriage, to love and honor one another for as long as you both shall live?”

“I am.” Two-thirds of the way, but bittersweet for her. She thought of how she never got to meet the woman whose dress she wore and quietly wished she were here to see this.

“Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?”

She could see Father Tom’s eyes looking at Teddy, where he sat with his grandfather and Pam in the pews.

“I am.” They said together. She was thrilled at the sight of the hint of a smile on Matt’s military demeanor.

“Since it is your intention to enter into Marriage, join your right hands and declare your consent before God and his church.”

They turned to face one another. A thrill chased from head to toe and back again as she looked up at her handsome Marine. Those eyes, so much like Teddy’s. That face, not so much stern as serene. His uniform, so much better than a rented tux. He had earned this while she was doing the work of raising Teddy. Now, God had brought them together willingly and with open hearts.

Matt stated his vows. Fr. Tom had insisted they memorize them rather than repeating responsively. “…all the days of my life.” This gave her pause. She had nearly lost him and would likely never have learned why he never returned, but he had. Here he was. Standing before her. Holding her hand and vowing before God to love none other for the rest of his life.

“I, Abigail, take you, Matthew, to be my husband. I promise to be faithful to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honor you all the days of my life.” His smile told her he was as glad of that as she was.

Harry and Bonnie handed rings to Fr. Tom. Zelda had recommended rose gold, as it would bring out the warmth of the colors of her Sacred Heart engagement ring. He blessed the rings and handed them over.

Abby studied Matt’s ring. It was large and sturdy, like him. Inside both rings, they had Semper fidelis engraved. Always faithful. Forever graven into the heart of both rings like a secret prayer, the Marine motto stood guard over their marriage. She took the ring and slid it onto his finger after he slid hers into place. His ring formula was similar to hers.

“Matthew, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” She smiled at her husband and turned to face the altar again.

Fr. Tom watched and waited for the vows to be stated before saying, “What God has joined together, let no one put asunder.”

She listened to the Prayers of the Faithful as she thought about how the wedding plans had come together so quickly with the help of her new family. Jenny and Pam were so level-headed and detail-oriented. Zelda handled networking with their friends at St. Cas to stage a reception in record time. Bonnie, though brusque, was the very soul of focus. Abby leaned on her to maintain a singular focus on all the details and process their meaning.

She felt very blessed to have married into Matt’s family. She had never had sisters or brothers. She never knew what she had been missing. Now that she had them, she couldn’t imagine living without them.

The moment had finally come. Wagner was playing. Matt offered his arm. They turned to recess down the aisle toward the narthex. Matt’s colleagues stepped out of the pews at the end of the aisle, standing at attention in their magnificent dress blues. She turned to smile at Matt as Bonnie handed Teddy to her. His tiny little tux was as adorable as it was ridiculous. She held him tight as Matt led her down the aisle.

The congregation stood to watch them pass by. As they approached the Marines, they drew their sabers and formed an arch. The last two Marines used their sabers to bar the way. Standing under the glittering steel, Matt turned and leaned in for their first kiss as husband and wife. She reached up to meet him, and Teddy said, “Da!”

The Marines sheathed their sabers, and Matt’s commanding officer gave him the customary swat in the pants with his saber before returning it to its scabbard.

Matt scanned his colleagues, attempting to put names with the faces he had only met at Tuesday’s orientation marathon. A familiar lance corporal smiled and winked.

“Joe?”

“Very observant, Jozsa.” Joe waved at Teddy.

“What? How did you get here?”

“I flew, and boy, are my arms tired.”

Matt turned to Abby. “Guy comes all the way from Africa to crack dad jokes at my wedding.”

“Our wedding, dear.” She handed Teddy to Lance Corporal Scariano. “I think this is what Joe really came for.”

“Ha, a mind-reader. Good thing you got to her first, Matt. This one’s definitely a keeper.”

She latched onto Matt’s arm. “Roger that, Scariano. Oorah!”

The Marines all grinned and replied, “Oorah!”

“Gonna be honest, Corporal.” Lt. Colonel Westing said. “I typically dismiss the detachment after the arch, but your mom insisted we stay.”

“It’s only right, sir. You’re as much family as my folks or Gary and Pam. Plus, it would be a shame to miss out on dinner catered by Polish church ladies.”

“Yeah, that was a definite selling point.” He smiled and reached out to shake Matt’s hand. “Congratulations, son. You’re going to fit in just fine.”

Over at the punch bowl, Abby and Teddy were chatting with Joe and Sgt. Wilson.

“Scariano, you can’t even believe this woman with a stack of work. It’s like the oh-triple-one transferred to her while Matt’s arm was out of commission.”

“I’m just glad you decided to join the detachment, Sergeant.”

“Please call me Ken, Mrs. Jozsa. You have to know there was no way I was missing the sight of Teddy in a tux.”

‘Mrs. Jozsa.’ Abby savored that one as Joe stepped into the gap.

“Abby is the kind of wife every Marine dreams of, Ken.” He grinned at Teddy.

“I told her she could call me Ken, Lance Corporal.”

Joe’s eyes got wide. “Oh, sorry, Sergeant.”

“I’m just messing with you, Joe. We’re all brothers here.” Wilson ladled himself a cup of punch. “Boy, all the way from Djibouti for a wedding? Matt must be quite a guy to inspire that kind of loyalty.”

“He’s a Marine’s Marine. Saved his CO. The major would have been an ex-chaplain if Matt hadn’t acted so fast.”

Abby stood there listening to these two men bragging about her husband to each other. She scanned the social hall to find Matt making the rounds among the relatives. She excused herself to join him.

“There they are.” Matt smiled. “Papi, how do you like his tux?”

George reached out for the baby. “Tivadar Gábor Jozsa, I bless you and welcome you to the family. Named after your own grandfather. It’s providential, and you’re such a good little boy. I’m going to teach you how to make a whistle out of an acorn shell when you’re older.”

Márta swatted his arm. “Oh, Gyurka, it’s as bad as giving someone’s child a drum set. Don’t teach this beautiful angel how to blast his mother’s eardrums out with an acorn.”

They continued to make the rounds and came across an unusual couple who were deep in conversation with Sarah MacInnes and Leo Murray. Sarah jumped up to hug Abby and steal the baby away. “Meirhe, this is my friend, Abby.”

Meirhe stood up to shake hands with the happy couple. Her petite stature made Zelda look like an amazon supermodel by comparison. “‘Tis a pleasure to meet ye. Thank’ee most kindly for the weddin’ invitation. I was only too glad of an opportunity to catch up with Sarah darlin’.”

“That’s quite a grip you’ve got there.” Matt shook his hand out. “And you are?”

“Dustin Woodley, sir. My new Sentinel name is Zephyr.”

“That’s a good name.” Matt reached out to shake his hand. “Weather powers?”

“No, I’m a speedster like Slipstream. My fan club in Wyoming Pass came up with it. Believe me, it’s better than TurboTeen or ZoomBoy.”

“Yes, that’s true.” Matt chuckled. “I’m glad you’re here, but how do I rate having Sentinels for wedding guests?”

“There was a minor mishap on Black Friday, and I was able to help.” He looked at Teddy.

“Oh, great. Well, help yourself to some food. I know you speed guys are sort of dependent on big meals.”

“Thanks, Corporal Jozsa. It was a beautiful wedding. I should know. My dad’s an Episcopal minister. I’ve assisted with enough to know yours was really special, sir.”

“Thanks, Dustin. That means a lot. I know it sounds like general hospitality, but Sarah told us how important it is for you and Eric to max on calories. The church ladies have enough back there to feed a division of famished Marines. Seriously, take what you need, and there will still be trays enough to take back to the city with you. Okay? And call me, Matt. My boss over there, he’s Sir.”

“Okay, Matt. Thanks. Congratulations and welcome back stateside.”

Uncles, aunts, cousins, local dignitaries and many of the church family wished their best as Matt, Abby and Teddy made their way through the guest tables.

“If the happy couple could find themselves front and center, I’d like to say a few words about my big brother.” Harry paced on the dance floor with the wireless mic.

The crowd settled down to a curious murmur as the newest Jozsa family approached.

“First and foremost, I pray that my brother and sister-in-law enjoy a long, happy marriage with as many siblings for Teddy as the Lord sees fit to provide.” He raised his glass as many in the hall clinked glasses and sipped their champagne or sparkling cider.

“Next, I would like to thank God for the many blessings he has already showered on us all. Nobody wants to hear that his brother has been injured in an explosion. Nobody wants to learn that insurgents planted a bomb the size of a porta-john where his brother and his CO were conducting inventory. Anybody who did hear such a thing about his brother on the far side of the planet would be as grateful as we all are to still have him here to celebrate this day with us.” He took a sip and raised his glass again. The guests clinked glasses and took another sip.

“Furthermore, if such a thing were to happen, not only would his brother’s family, friends and church community be grateful to still have him and receive him for a well-deserved Christmas at home, but his Corps would have something to say about it. I’m going to ask Lieutenant Colonel Westing to join me.”

The wedding crowd stood and applauded as Matt’s new commanding officer made his way through the crowd with two velvet boxes. Harry handed him the mic and stood back.

“It’s a proud day when I have the honor of welcoming a new Marine family into my command, and Corporal and Mrs. Jozsa already have a splendid head start with young Teddy. Like Harry, I wish you long years and many children.” He paused to let people clink glasses. “It’s an even prouder day when the Marine joining your command comes with a documented act of such heroism and selfless forethought. As a result, it is my great honor to present these medals to Corporal Jozsa for that very action. First, for taking quick action to save the life of his commanding officer, Major Theodore Melrose, in the aftermath of an insurgent explosion, he has been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.” He opened the box to show the medal to Matt and Abby before handing it to Matt. The colonel held the remaining box. “Second, for injuries sustained in that action, Corporal Jozsa has been awarded the Purple Heart.” He opened the box to show them before handing it to Abby. He waited for glasses to clink. “As I said, it’s a privilege to receive such a fine Marine into my command, and it’s a rare honor to be so kindly embraced by his family on the occasion of his wedding. Thank you for the invitation, the delicious meal and a splendid day of fellowship. To this wedding of true hearts, I simply add Semper fidelis, which is a command to be always faithful to each other, to the Corps and to God Almighty.” He received a glass of champagne from Harry, which he raised before taking a sip and returning to his table.

“Thank you, Colonel Westing. I now have the pleasure and the duty to ask the unmarried young ladies to gather for the tossing of the bouquet. I’m not sure who among us was prepared for warfare in a church social hall, but Jozsa family gatherings are never boring.”

People laughed and clapped as the women formed a line. Matt held Teddy as Abby took her place beside Harry. “Tradition holds that whoever catches the bridal bouquet will be the next one getting married. This is for all the marbles, ladies. Abby, are you ready?”

She smiled and blushed.

“Ladies, on the count of three, we will learn whose wedding we’re attending next. One, two, three!”

The community space had a high ceiling, so Abby tossed the bouquet over her shoulder in a high arc. The women braced themselves, reaching out eagerly. The bouquet sailed toward their waiting hands as Zelda dashed back and forth like a professional running back.

Everyone gasped and cheered as the bouquet landed firmly in the waiting grasp of Pam Grayson. She held it overhead triumphantly and brought it down to cradle it as she sniffed the fresh arrangement.

“Sorry, honey.” Harry shrugged.

Zelda waved and took her seat. She wasn’t disappointed since she was already wearing the ring Harry had put his down payment on. Abby and Bonnie had pooled their money to pay it off so that Harry could pop the question before the wedding. She sat down with her family to admire the ring as the reception continued.