“Finally, as Dr. Chisum noted in his remarks, tonight one of the names that will be read as part of this graduation is that of Cosmo Uttero. Dr. Chisum and I had a chance to speak to Cosmo recently, and I have to tell you that even at 97, his mind is sharp and he was able to recount in great detail his experiences growing up in Wellesley off of Weston Rd. He talked about spending time in the summer swimming at Morses Pond and at Lake Waban. And he assured us that this latter choice had nothing to do with its proximity to a prominent women’s college.
I’ve tried to imagine what must have been going through Cosmo’s mind when, at the age of 17, with a world at war, he decided to leave the safe confines of Wellesley and enlist in the Army, essentially running toward the sound of the guns. With the conflict raging in Europe and in the Pacific, Cosmo clearly decided not to be a bystander and, not long after joining the Army, he landed on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day in 1944 and helped turn the tide of the war. It’s most appropriate that we recognize Cosmo’s service to our nation tonight, and bestow on him one final honor that he has most surely earned, a Wellesley High School Diploma.
If Cosmo were here in person tonight, I know he would likely tell us that he made the same choice that so many of his generation made then and that others have made since. It is in that spirit that I’d like to ask all of our active-duty military and veterans present tonight to stand and be recognized for their service to our nation.
Thank you. Class of 2021, I hope that Cosmo Uttero’s example inspires you on your life’s journey as you leave this field tonight. Regardless of where that path takes you, I hope you too will consider ways to serve your community and our country. Regardless of the form that takes, what matters most is that, like that 17-year-old from Wellesley more than 70 years ago, you too choose not to be a bystander.”
Cosmo returned to Wellesley a few years later, where I had the chance to meet him in person and join him on a tour of our new Wellesley High School. He was an absolute delight. Cosmo is pictured below along with legendary WHS Math teacher, Chuck Tiberia, also an Army veteran.
