Vintage Memorial Day ceremonies

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday for Americans to honor the men and women who died in the country's service and to pray for (according to whatever faith they practice) permament peace.

Please take a moment in your busy day to watch this 54-second clip.

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, May 24 through May 30

Good morning!

I have thirteen news and feature stories to share with you today at the bottom of this post, as well as six Thank You, Teachers stories from our special edition on May 8.

More stories will go live this holiday weekend. So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

Before the stories I also have a list of additional updates, resources, and information. Please check them out, too.

And if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, consider this book.

And have a great Friday!

Events (or where to find the BryonySeries)

Ye Old May Fest 2025: May 31 and June 1, Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre, 201 W. Jefferson St., Joliet. Free Bertrand Shakespeare ABCs to the first twenty-five attendees each day. Free photos with Sir Bertrand, too.

BryonySeries also has a special graduation special at The Book Market, 2365 Plainfield Road in Crest Hill. The special will run through early June.

BryonySeries books-in-progress

Bertrand the Mouse: We have plenty of Bertrand photos and ideas. Several are at the top of the list. That's all I'm saying for now.

The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: Cornell Dyer and the House of Horreur" (because the toymaker's last name is "Horreur.") is stalled until Timothy finished his master's degree, which he did. So now we just have to stop having family emergencies (they just keep coming) and carve some time for a Cornell breakfast (it's been three years since our last one, way, way too long). I'm having surgery July 17, so I'm hoping we can make that happen before then, just to get the process moving and give Sue Midlock ideas for art (she illustrates all the Cornell books).

Brainy Ann: The fifth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries is outlined and the first chapter is written, hurray! Jennifer Wainwright, who welcomed her first child into the world last year, is nearly done with the cover portrait. I let this book slide for other BryonySeries projects...and I'm still letting it (overall) slide, I'm afraid. But I'm hoping to finish the book this year, fingers crossed.

Jennifer designed the cover portraits for "Julie and the Too-Hard Homework," "Katie and the Big Fear," "Summer Sisters." and "Karla Joins In," as well as the frontispiece for "Lycanthropic Summer."

Other books: I am not writing a novel this year. But I have an idea for a BryonySeries Christmas anthology that I'd like to release in 2026.

Rebekah is also slowly (very, very slowly) updating the BryonySeries YouTube and Pinterest accounts. And she' catching up with Kindles for some of the BryonySeries books. So do watch for those.

For books and more information about the series, visit bryonyseries.com.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Sue's Diner is a fictional restaurant in the fictional Munsonville that only exists in the BryonySeries.

Each Wednesday, we post a new recipe. The recipe is either featured in one of our cookbooks, will be featured in an upcoming cookbook, or is just an "extra" we want to share with you.

Check out the recipe here.

WRITERS

If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to join WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page. We're based in Joliet, Illinois, but we love to meet and interact with writers outside our area, too.

If you'd like to officially join WriteOn Joliet, we have two tiers of dues and two ways to attend meetings. We also have a marketing arm that's getting longer every year. Check us out at writeonjoliet.com.

I also suggest this book: Little Book of Revision: A Checklist for Fiction Writers. It's exactly as it says. Each page some with one suggestion for revision. The rest of the page is blank, so you can add your own notes. All proceeds benefit WriteOn Joliet.

If you need editing or help with self-publishing, check out dmbaranunland.com.

ARTISTS

If you need an artist for a project, I offer these recommendations.

NEWSLETTERS

Sign up for The Munsonville Times by emailing us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. The newsletter still isn't official yet, so we don't have an actual link on the website - but we are working on it! 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Daily updates: I haven't posted anything on Twitter/X (except a daily Bible verse) since September I can no longer schedule posts in advance. I'm not sure yet how to manage the account without that option. But you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.

BryonySeries stuff: I used to curated content relating to the BryonySeries on Twitter/X at @BryonySeries and still post assorted related content at facebook.com/BryonySeries, youtube.com/user/BryonySeries, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at pinterest.com/bryonyseries.

Again, not sure yet about the direction of the BryonySeries Twitter/X account. Still mulling that over.

And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.

QUESTIONS

Email me at bryonyseries@gmail.com.

Thank you for reading The Herald-News. And for reading this blog. And if you've read (or plan to read) any of my books. Your support is greatly appreciated.

FEATURES

‘Death is forever, freedom is not’ Vietnam veteran says at Crest Hill Memorial Day service

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/05/26/death-is-forever-freedom-is-not-vietnam-veteran-says-at-crest-hill-memorial-day-service/

PHOTOS: Crest Hill observes Memorial Day

https://www.shawlocal.com/gallery/2025/05/26/photos-crest-hill-observes-memorial-day/

Joliet Boys & Girls Club hires branch manager

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/05/29/joliet-boys-and-girls-club-hires-branch-manager/

Shorewood bridge to remain down to 1 lane indefinitely

Construction awaiting final land acquisition

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/05/25/shorewood-bridge-remaining-1-lane-indefinitely/

The Patio building new restaurant in New Lenox

Site of former Silver Cross professional building

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/news/local/2025/05/23/the-patio-restaurant-coming-to-new-lenox/

Plainfield woman hopes to break Guinness World Record on trivia

Looks to for title as ‘Longest Marathon as a Quiz Master”

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/05/27/plainfield-woman-hopes-to-break-guinness-world-record-on-trivia/

McDonald’s closing Bolingbrook CosMc’s location

Beverage-focused spinoff opened to much hype in 2023

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/05/27/mcdonalds-closing-bolingbrook-cosmcs-location/

New Cravers in Lockport offers gyros, burgers, beef sandwiches and more

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/05/24/new-cravers-in-lockport-offers-gyros-burgers-beef-sandwiches-and-more/

QuikTrip opens Romeoville travel center near I-55

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/05/23/quiktrip-opens-romeoville-travel-center-near-i-55/

Family-owned pizzeria closing Shorewood location

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/05/29/family-owned-pizzeria-closing-shorewood-location/

Shorewood coffee shop under new ownership

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/05/28/shorewood-coffee-shop-under-new-ownership/

Will County Pets of the Week: May 26, 2025

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/05/26/will-county-pets-of-the-week-may-26-2025/

5 Things to Do in Will County: Joliet museum hosting rooftop concert

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2025/05/28/5-things-to-do-in-will-county-joliet-museum-hosting-rooftop-concert/

THANK YOU, TEACHERS

Five Joliet District 86 couples juggle work, home lives teaching at same schools

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/05/08/five-joliet-district-86-couples-teach-at-same-school/

Couple dedicated to teaching bilingual education at Plainfield school

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/05/08/bilingual-couple-teaches-at-same-plainfield-school/

Shorewood teacher ‘has a heart that is bigger than the school’

Joey Ancel decided in preschool to become a teacher

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/05/08/shorewood-teacher-has-a-heart-that-is-bigger-than-the-school/

Plainfield ELA teacher recognized by state as one of south suburbs top educators

Jennifer Gruca personalizes literature for her students

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/05/08/plainfield-ela-teacher-recognized-by-state-as-one-of-south-suburbs-top-educators/

Troy District 30-C bilingual teacher ‘is very aware of what her kids need’

Sandra Almazan also wants ‘kids recognized for their accomplishments’

https://www.shawlocal.com/thank-you/teachers/2025/05/08/troy-district-30-c-bilingual-teacher-is-very-aware-of-what-her-kids-need/

St. Mary in Plainfield teacher creates ‘community of caring’

Lisa Phad makes ‘every student feels valued and motivated’

https://www.shawlocal.com/thank-you/teachers/2025/05/08/st-mary-in-plainfield-teacher-creates-community-of-caring/

 

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

Ambassador Hugh C Wallace of United States arrives for Memorial Day ceremony at Suresnes cemetery in France

Memorial Day – 1936 | Flashback | History

Vintage Memorial Day ceremonies

America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee) • Werner Elmker, piano [HQ]

U S Memorial Day Ceremony Glasnevin Cemetery Dublin 14 May 2019 2160p

"Decoration Day" By Henry Wadworth Longfellow

Two of the characters in the fourth installment of Before The Blood and one in Bryony are fond of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poetry and, from time to time, quote from it.

Longfellow was a founder of the U.S. magazine The Atlantic. He wrote "Decoration Day" in 1882 about the holiday, which held its first national on May 5, 1868 to honor those who had died in the Civil War.

Decoration Day later expanded to Memorial Day and included anyone who died in the service of the U.S. Until 1970, Memorial Day was held on May 30.

In 1971, Memorial Day became a federal holiday and is now observed on the last Monday of May. 

Many people don't know this, but Americans, wherever they are and whatever they are doing, are supposed to take a minute of silence at 3 p.m. and remember those who died in military service to the U.S.

"Decoration Day"

By Henry Wadworth Longfellow

Sleep, comrades, sleep and rest

  On this Field of the Grounded Arms,

Where foes no more molest,

  Nor sentry's shot alarms!

Ye have slept on the ground before,

  And started to your feet

At the cannon's sudden roar,

  Or the drum's redoubling beat.

But in this camp of Death

  No sound your slumber breaks;

Here is no fevered breath,

  No wound that bleeds and aches.

All is repose and peace,

  Untrampled lies the sod;

The shouts of battle cease,

  It is the Truce of God!

Rest, comrades, rest and sleep!

  The thoughts of men shall be

As sentinels to keep

  Your rest from danger free.

Your silent tents of green

  We deck with fragrant flowers;

Yours has the suffering been,
The memory will be ours.

Photo by Timothy Baran

Out of Hibernation

Contrasts make for good writing.

It also makes for good living.

When I was a college student, I hung a poster on my door that gave examples of this very thing. Examples: "Going out at night becomes dull without nights of staying home by the fire" and "Having a cold means you get to stay in bed and eat, and having the flu means you get to stay in bed and lose weight."

When I've spent a lot of time alone with projects, it's refreshing to spend time with people. When I've engaged quite a bit with people, I need the rejuvenation of alone time. 

As a writer, I like writing about those things that touch the human spirit. As a features writer, I show the light by focusing on the positive. As a fiction writer, I point to the light by highlighting the dark.

Last weekend, I had a good portion of a weekend off. This past weekend, I took off almost two and a half days, and it was the most wonderful two days I've had in a very, very, very long time.

Here's what "wonderful" felt like to me:

I worked an intense 13-hour Friday without a break to make it home for a pizza dinner with Joshua, Amber, and three of my grandchildren. While everyone debated on who should cut up the watermelon (no one wanted to do it), Sue Midlock, the illustrator for The Adventures of Cornell Dyer series, showed up for coffee, bringing a tub of strawberries and a tub of whipped cream and leaving the watermelon conundrum for another day. (We, meaning "not me," eventually cut it up that weekend and ate it. Yes, it was delicious).

Sue and I sat for nearly three hours at Barnes and Noble drinking coffee and talking about reading and writing, our projects, things we liked, her idea and her treat. It was lovely!

I arrived home to find that my copy of Fifteen Years by Allison Rios that I had won had arrived so I read a third of it then and there.

On Saturday and straight into Sunday, stopping only for showering and sleep, I read through and copy edited the fifth and last book of Before the Blood, the prequel to the Bryony trilogy, so now it's ready for the final formatting and ordering a proof copy. As a reader, I found it to be an amazing read, one of those books that lingers in your head. 

So before heading to the next project, I needed an brain intermezzo. I was going to get some work done, but Timothy was working on the Sue's Diner page of the BryonySeries website, so we consulted on that for awhile.

Then I settled down to work on Phyllis' memoir, which is now in a pretty good first draft status, good for me because she is coming to the house next Sunday with photos, and good for her because she is excited to see it.

Rebekah and I took off for a walk. When we came back, Jasmine and Timothy were roasting s'mores on the back porch. Timothy asked me if I wanted to roast my own. Nope! I pulled up a little chair to gaze at the fire (lovely), decided the scene needed a mouse, ran inside for Bertrand, AND THEN, settled down with my crocheted mouse to eat two s'mores (because the first one didn't melt the chocolate properly, and that should not be my last memory of a s'more).

On Sunday I walked and shook a veterans hand, finally watched the 2014 "What We Do in the Shadows" (LOVED IT!) and then settled down for about six hours of work. I didn't get it all done (which will make for a stressful week), but certainly I'm farther ahead than if, say, I'd been slothful and taken the entire day off.

Besides, I had another idea for another book (or series) brewing inside me. Not enough to not work. But enough that I could jot thoughts as I worked as ideas came to me.

I also veeeeery gradually worked my way back into social media.

And I remembered veterans.

I finished reading Fifteen Years and will review it in an upcoming LocalLit newsletter.

Between storms, I ran up to work to check voice messages at work (none, how about that?), took a walk with Rebekah, and, before bed, watched some"Doom Patrol (It's very good) with Daniel.

Yes, I know it's not an exciting weekend by some perspectives. And it wasn't "exciting" for me, either.

But it was marvelous. And just what I needed.

I hope the same is true for you, too.

Hello, Tuesday. :)

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

"Heroism in the Workplace" Tour Host: Topher Gleason

I scheduled this particular blog stop for today because I feel its topic is appropriate for Memorial Day, a day to commemorate heroism.

While heroism in the workplace (or the home or anywhere else) is not the same as losing one's life on the battlefield for freedom, standing up for one's beliefs or for the sake of another is never easy.

I find such actions inspiring as does Topher Gleason, Customer Experience Manager at Digital Dealership System, who hosted me on his LinkedIn page today.

On his LinkedIn page, Topher describes himself in the following way: "I strive to ensure excellent service for clients with no objection to traveling a majority of the time. Seventeen years sales experience, eight years sales training experience and seven years management experiences, makes me a very well rounded game changer.

"I am an excellent communicator with the ability to do both online and in-person demonstrations to one or five hundred plus.

"I have a fruitful sales track record with ability to bond effectively in all mediums."

Topher not only tries to model heroism, he believes in mentoring (He is a former Big Brother) and inspiring others in word and deed. I tried to write a post that reflected those characteristics.

You may read it here:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/heroism-workplace-topher-gleason/

Thank a Veteran Today

Or pay your respects to one.

That's it.

Go do it.

Now.

Central ParkBethpage Memorial Day decoration day parade 1932