An especially strong gust blew across Wiscasset’s graduation early in Friday night’s ceremony, knocking off one of the floral displays. And a strong one near the end of Morse High School’s at Wiscasset Municipal Airport the next day had officials trying to put flags back in place. But those two winds were nothing after the virus that swept around the world and is still blowing but could not stop the seniors or the schools from finishing the year with diplomas and style.

Both ceremonies were widely anticipated, at least as much as always, and took more orchestration than at their usual venues. But both had the students’ families there and graduates having their big moments in person, together. And both went great.

Congratulations, one more time, to all who graduated and all who worked on the ceremonies and more. Tradition looked and, with the car peeps at both ceremonies, sounded different this year. But tradition continued. Well done, very well done.

Hopefully, every high school’s graduation can be back on its usual turf a year from now. This  year proved it could be pulled off ether way.

Week’s positive parting thought: You can’t stop courage, either. Morse valedictorian Abigail Durgin spent minutes of her speech calling for change in how America has addressed racial issues. Good job.