Memorial Day weekend is not just the unofficial start of summer, but high school graduation season as well.

Graduations begin Friday with Belmont High School in the BHS gym at 7 p.m., and Cuba City High School in the Jerry Petitgoue Gymnasium at 7:30 p.m.

Emma Eastlick is the BHS Class of 2013 valedictorian, and Kalyn Kamps is the salutatorian. Jason Derby is the CCHS Class of 2013 valedictorian, and six students — Mitchel Burkholder, Emily Ginter, Austin Kilburg, Brandon Slaats, Allison Timmerman and Emily Wallenhorst — are the salutatorians. Wallenhorst, Derby and Ginter will be speaking Friday.

Iowa–Grant High School’s commencement will be held in the I–G gym Sunday at 1 p.m. Shaun Soman is the Class of 2013 valedictorian, and Rita Reynolds is the salutatorian.

Potosi High School’s commencement will be held in the PHS gym Sunday at 1 p.m. Eighteen of the 39 PHS graduates are graduating with honors, including valedictorians Katherine Mish and Clara White.

Platteville High School’s graduation will be in the PHS gym Sunday, June 2 at 1 p.m.

VFW Post 6455 will hold ceremonies at the Holy Ghost Cemetery in Dickeyville around 8:45 a.m., Dickeyville Park around 9 a.m., Louisburg Cemetery around 9:15 a.m., and Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Kieler around 10:45 a.m.

The Potosi Memorial Day observance will begin at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Tennyson at 9 a.m. Members of VFW Post 5076 and American Legion Post 473 will visit the gravesites at British Hollow at 10:15 a.m., St. Thomas Catholic Church in Potosi at 10:30 a.m. and Van Buren Cemetery at 10:45 a.m., before going to the Potosi Campground at 11 a.m. and Hickory Hill Park at 11:30 a.m. Veterans are to assemble in Tennyson at 8:30 a.m.

The Platteville Memorial Day Program will be in the Municipal Building Monday, with the Platteville High School Blue Notes concert at 9:40 a.m. and the ceremony beginning at 10 a.m. Members of American Legion Post 42 and VFW Post 5274 will participate.

Platteville Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts will lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and Girl Scouts will lead the American Creed.
The Gettysburg Address will be read by Joseph Sigwarth, followed by “In Flanders Fields,” read by Charlotte Eversoll, and “America’s Answer,” read by Rita Eversoll. Saafig Masoom will give the VRW Voice of Democracy presentation. The memorial address will be given by Army veteran Ted Kearns of the Town of Belmont.

The memorial service will be followed by a ritualistic service in City Park near the Veterans Honor Roll.

Members of VFW Post 9298 will hold a memorial service at the grave of Charles “Ki” Moller in Rock Cemetery in the Town of Clifton at 10 a.m.