Graduations and Memorial Day events were celebrated this week in Vicksburg.

The Vicksburg Warren School District held Vicksburg High School’s graduation on Thursday night followed by Warren Central’s graduation on Friday with VHS graduating 198 seniors and WCHS graduating 255.

Rakaiyah Winters, who was named valedictorian at VHS, left a number of messages for her classmates including never stop learning, be kind to others and never underestimate who you can become.

WCHS valedictorian Madison Kendall spoke of class unity.

Local Memorial Day events kicked off on Friday with approximately 70 volunteers putting out more than 18,000 flags at Vicksburg National Cemetery.

The Vicksburg National Military Park held a Pops Concert on Saturday to commemorate the Memorial Day Weekend. Guest performers included the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and The Church of Holy Trinity Conservatory of Fine Arts student orchestra.

The VNMP also hosted re-enactments from the 3rd U.S. Colored Calvary Saturday and Sunday. The re-enactors presented living history programs throughout the day.

More positive happenings this week included:

• The Vicksburg Health Network, which is a collection of health care workers in Vicksburg and surrounding areas, hosted its fifth annual Senior Health Expo on Tuesday.

About 40 booths were set up at the Vicksburg Mall and vendors included healthcare providers from Acadian, St. Joseph, St. Dominic’s, Hometown Medical and the Warren-Yazoo Mental Health Service.

• Paddlewheeler America docked at Vicksburg City Front Wednesday during the new ship’s second voyage up the Mississippi River.

On board were more than 100 passengers excited to see what Vicksburg had to offer before heading north to Memphis.