At 88 years old, Richard Gosson is about to walk across a stage that many thought he’d never return to. The Korean War veteran, who left high school as a teenager to serve his country, is finally getting the diploma he put on hold more than seven decades ago.
On Monday, June 9, Gosson will be honored by the Fall River School Committee in a special ceremony at B.M.C. Durfee High School — the same school he left behind all those years ago. The event is part of Operation Recognition, a state program that awards diplomas to veterans who were never able to finish high school because they answered the call of duty.
He Chose Service Over School — and Never Looked Back
Richard Gosson was just a teenager when he made the life-altering decision to leave school and join the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. “It was the right thing to do,” he’s said. “My country needed me, and I wasn’t the only one who stepped up.”
Like many young men of his generation, Gosson never got the chance to return to high school after the war. Life moved on — a career, a family, a quiet commitment to his community. His education was something he let go of, but he never forgot it completely.
A Long Overdue Recognition
Thanks to Operation Recognition, veterans like Gosson are finally receiving the honor they missed. The Massachusetts program allows cities and towns to award diplomas to veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War who left school to serve in the military.
Fall River school officials said it was an easy decision to celebrate Gosson. “It’s not just about the piece of paper,” said one committee member. “It’s about recognizing a sacrifice and restoring something that was never forgotten — even after all these years.”
A Ceremony Filled With Emotion and Community Pride
The ceremony on June 9 is expected to be emotional. Friends, family, fellow veterans, and city officials will gather in the auditorium at B.M.C. Durfee High School to celebrate not only Gosson’s service, but his lifelong commitment to doing the right thing — even when it meant giving something up.
“I can’t even imagine what it will feel like,” Gosson said when asked about the upcoming event. “Walking into that building again after all this time — it’s going to mean everything.”
More Than a Diploma
For Gosson, this diploma isn’t about education in the traditional sense. It’s about closing a chapter he left unfinished. It’s about showing his grandchildren and great-grandchildren that even at 88 years old, there are still milestones worth reaching.
“This is something I never thought would happen,” he said quietly. “But I’m glad it is. It feels good — really good.”
His neighbors agree. “He’s a hero to us,” one longtime friend said. “This diploma doesn’t just belong to him — it belongs to all the men and women who never got theirs.”
A Moment That Brings Generations Together
The ceremony is also a rare opportunity for younger generations to witness something powerful: a living example of sacrifice, humility, and persistence. As Fall River students watch Gosson accept his diploma, they’ll see that education doesn’t have an age limit — and that history lives in the people around us.
School leaders hope it sparks conversations in classrooms and at dinner tables. “We talk a lot about heroes,” said one teacher. “But this is one sitting right here in our community.”
A Reminder That It’s Never Too Late
As Richard Gosson prepares to take the stage, he’s not just receiving a diploma — he’s reclaiming a moment in time that was lost to war. It’s a celebration of his story, and of everyone who gave up something for the greater good.
For those attending Monday’s ceremony, it won’t be just about the past. It will be about the power of recognition, the importance of finishing what we start, and the fact that some dreams are worth waiting for — even if they take 70 years.
