Grand Marshal – Lt. Robert Bradley

Our military is without peer.

It is the highest form of citizenship to our country.

The men and women of our armed forces stand in the best tradition of the citizen soldier, who for two centuries has kept our country safe and free. All are volunteers– who willingly accept the burdens and dangers of service.

Today we honor this dedication.  The Wellesley Celebrations Committee, a standing committee of the Select Board, Town of Wellesley honors Robert H. Bradley as Grand Marshal.

Robert H. Bradley III was born in Philadelphia in 1944. After graduating from Deerfield Academy in 1962 and Williams College in 1966, he went to the U.S. Navy OCS, graduating in December 1966, in the same class as John Kerry. He went on two deployments to WestPac, serving as the Damage Control Assistant on the USS Savage (DER-386) in 1967-1968. Volunteering to serve on Swift Boats, he was posted to Coastal Division 12 in Da Nang in 1969-1970. He served as Officer-in-Charge of PCF 24, then as Operation Officer of the Division, and lastly as ACTOV Officer responsible for turning over the Swifts to the Vietnamese Navy.

Graduating with an M.A. from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, he married his wife, Nancy. Together they spent 14 years with Citibank in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

Returning to Boston in 1985, he helped to start five companies, among which are a bank, a wealth management firm, and a faith-based prep-school — Boston Trinity Academy. He continues to serve as Chairman of Bradley, Foster & Sargent.

Rob and Nancy live in Wellesley, Massachusetts. They have two daughters, one son, and twelve grandchildren.

Despite America’s failure in South Vietnam, Rob sees the Vietnam War as just one conflict in the successful effort to counter the Communist aggression that threatened the world between 1945 and 1989. It is now time for the next generation to counter the threat posed by the new axis of evil: Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran.

This year we celebrate the American Revolution, the most significant event in the history of New England. We owe so much to those patriots and so much to people like Robert H. Bradley. We have seen in him the modesty of true strength, and the humility of real caring. 

May 17th & 18th, 2025