The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

Wellesley Council on Aging, Temple Beth Elohim offer Juneteenth programs

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The Commonwealth this year for the first time recognizes June 19, or Juneteenth, as an official state holiday marking slavery’s end in the United States.

How will it be celebrated in Wellesley?

For one, the Wellesley Council on Aging hosts a program on Thursday, June 17th at 2pm titled “Juneteenth: Exploring and Celebrating.

The description for the event reads:

In July of 2020, Juneteenth was officially recognized as a holiday in Massachusetts to be celebrated each year on June 19th. Join Rev. Deborah Clark on Thursday, June 17th at 2:00 PM as she presents about the new role it is playing in our state and our nation today. Juneteenth has a long history, dating back to the day, in 1865, that the Union army rode into Galveston, Texas and told enslaved people about emancipation. It was two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. In this hour-long virtual conversation, we will delve into the history of Juneteenth, how it has been celebrated in different parts of the country. We will talk about what it means for us to celebrate this holiday in a way that honors a painful history and lifts up courage and hope.

Also offering a Juneteenth program is Temple Beth Elohim on June 18, from 7:30-8:45pm online.

The program, titled “Juneteenth and the Continuing March to Freedom with TBE Online,” will feature “speakers from the Partakers College-Behind-Bars program and the new Partakers Empowerment Program (PEP), a re-entry program for individuals recently released from prison. We will hear how TBE mentors are supporting individuals during their incarceration, and then post-release in rebuilding their lives. We will also learn about efforts to prevent youth-at-risk from getting swept into the cycle of violence and incarceration.”

Other Wellesley Juneteenth programs? [email protected]

Town office and department holiday schedules

Wellesley municipal offices and departments will follow a limited holiday schedule this year in observance of Juneteenth.

Closed on Friday, June 18:

  • Wellesley Town Hall
  • Wellesley Public Schools (No Students, Buildings will be open for teachers & staff)

Closed on Saturday, June 19:

  • Wellesley RDF (Closed all day)
  • Wellesley Free Library (All branches)
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Wellesley Municipal Light Plant
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D-Day veteran gets his well-earned Wellesley High School diploma

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Cosmo Uttero, the 97-year-old former Wellesley resident who left high school at the age of 17 to enlist in the U.S. Army during World War II, received his well-earned Wellesley High School diploma during Friday’s graduation ceremony. He viewed a livestream of the event from his home in Bradenton, Fla., with friends and family.

As we reported last month, the decorated veteran’s accomplishments included landing on Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day.

 

Cosmo Uttero graduation
Cosmo Uttero, celebrating with friends and family in Florida (Photo credit: Kates Family Photography)

 

According to an announcement issued by the town of Wellesley, Mr. Uttero described getting his diploma so many years after leaving school as a lifetime highlight. “I think I’ve pretty much done it all. I went back to Normandy in 2014, and now this. I guess you could say it’s the final nail in my coffin.” Though to be clear, he also said he’s looking forward to his 100th birthday in a few years…

In remarks to the Class of 2021, Wellesley Public Schools Superintendent Dr. David Lussier urged graduates to use Mr. Uttero’s life story as inspiration for their own futures. “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.”

A Department of Veterans Affairs program allows schools to award diplomas to qualified veterans.

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London Harness, Wellesley

Wellesley’s military and war memorials

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Wellesley has dozens of permanent markers and tributes throughout town to recognize those who served in the military and fought in wars.

 

More: Natick war memorial tour

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78 years later, Wellesley High issuing diploma to D-Day veteran who left school to enlist

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cosmo uttero
WHS’s Cosmo Uttero

If your own kid’s graduation doesn’t get you tearing up at Wellesley High School’s ceremony on June 4, then this surely will. World War II veteran Cosmo Uttero, who left Wellesley High in 1943 to enlist in the U.S. Army at the age of 17 and would soon be landing on Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day, will be receiving his diploma 78 years later.

Wellesley Public Schools Supt. Dr. David Lussier, a military dad himself, got the waterworks going early at Tuesday night’s School Committee meeting (see Welelsley Media recording about 30 minutes in), when he announced plans for this special diploma. Mr. Uttero, now in his mid-90s, will be watching the ceremony via livestream in Florida and get to hear his name called and the inevitable standing ovation that will follow.

Private First Class Uttero of the 175th Reg., 29th Division landed on Omaha Beach in France on June 6, 1944, and he returned 70 years after the historic day to revisit sites, including the Normandy American Cemetery, and be honored along with other veterans. His division landed in the face of enemy fire, and according to one recent interview with Mr. Uttero, he initially ditched his weapon in the water so as not to sink and wound up grabbing a replacement from a fallen comrade on the beach.

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The WWII hero returned to Normandy in 2014 thanks to a trip organized by the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. A report from the museum recounts that “On D-Day, Uttero’s unit was not set to land until the day after but the horrific losses suffered by the first waves of the 29th Division forced his unit to go in at Vierville-sur-Mer around 12:00pm on June 6th.” Mr. Uttero told the Los Angeles Times that he was one of just 3 men in his unit not to be injured or killed during the invasion.

Mr. Uttero has been interviewed about his war experiences numerous times in recent years, and he’s even on a trading card honoring military veterans.

Wellesley reunion

Mr. Uttero told Wellesley Public Schools he grew up off of Weston Road near Morses Pond. From there, his world expanded greatly and quickly. After basic training, he shipped off to Scotland and then to England to train for D-Day.
“Mr. Uttero’s family reached out to us earlier this year to inquire about the possibility of him receiving a WHS diploma,” Lussier told us via email. “Naturally, we were thrilled to oblige and he will be issued his diploma along with our graduates next Friday (78 years later!)”
There are sure to be plenty of inspiring stories at the Class of 2021’s graduation ceremony, but Mr. Uttero’s will be tough to beat.
“I hope his story inspires our graduates and helps them put the past year of challenges in perspective,” Lussier says.
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Wellesley Historical Society gets helping hand from Wellesley High artists

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You’ve got to love it when WHS & WHS join forces.

Wellesley Historical Society was looking to replicate its logo, which features town hall, for use on vehicle stickers/decals. But Wellesley Historical Executive Director Amanda Fisher says the image wasn’t quite right for reproduction, so society volunteer Jennifer Maddon connected with Wellesley High art teacher Brian Reddy in hopes that the logo might serve as a project for his digital art team.

He, in turn, recruited Wellesley High senior Sarah Dobbie, who had been seeking a volunteer opportunity. She’s been involved in art since middle school, taking sculpture, metals, drawing, and painting, and says her drawing and painting intensive class has been one of the best things of the year.

“I recruited Sarah to redraw the emblem in the center because the original one, while a well-drawn design, had poor image quality,” Reddy said. “Sarah has excellent drafting skills and is comfortable creating digital imagery, so I was confident she’d easily handle creating the new emblem.”

Dobbie drew the emblem manually and sent Reddy the digital file. He then replicated the text and banner imagery using digital apps at the high school, and prepped the image format for use in various applications.

“It was difficult taking the stippling (dots) from the original design into a streamlined version, deciding where to enhance shadows and leave spaces open. Hatching can be somewhat harsh especially when using a larger line weight, and one difficulty was trying to minimize that and maintain the shape of the building while only using straight lines,” Dobbie said. “Overall, I think it took between 3 and 4 hours.”

This isn’t the first Wellesley image Dobbie has made her mark on. Previously, she recreated the map of Guernsey Sanctuary for the Wellesley Conservation Council. That map was done on paper, and she reworked the logo digitally to make it easier to correct errors and play with different versions.

Dobbie looks forward to spotting the Wellesley Historical Society image in the wild, on a vehicle.

“It is spectacular to think that I could see something I created around town, to know that people own and are enjoying my work.”

Reddy added: “I think it will bring a little joy to the morning rush if I find myself sitting behind it on Washington St.”

wellesley historical logo

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