Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend Parade, Fireworks, & Events June 2nd and 3rd, 2018

 

 During the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest in December 1944, 22-year-old Army infantry lieutenant Bob Hinchliffe repeatedly ran from safety back onto the frozen German battlefield under enemy fire to rescue his wounded men.  More than 60 years later, he still treasures the Bronze Star he was awarded for his actions that day.

 

 "It is Wellesley's honor to recognize a true hero at this year's parade," said chairman Roy Switzler, in announcing that Hinchliffe, a 54-year-resident, has been named the Veterans' Honor Award recipient for his lifetime of service to his country and to his town.

 

 "Wellesley, where he has lived so long and which he has served so well, is proud to celebrate Bob Hinchliffe as a tremendous example of sacrifice, devotion, and strength of character."

 

 Hinchliffe was President of his junior class at Boston University when World War II took him from the classroom to the battlefield.  For more than four years during the war, he served with the 310th Regiment of the 78th Infantry (Lightning) Division, seeing action in many of the most intense battles in the European Theater of Operations, including the Battle for the Bridge at Remagan, and the Battle of the Bulge.

 

 By the end of the war, he had been decorated with the Combat Infantry Badge, with Campaign Medals for Northern France and Belgium; the Rhineland; and Central Europe.  General Josiah T. Dalbey, the Commanding General of Troops in Berlin, then selected him to be his Aide-de-camp, and so Hinchliffe stayed on as the Army of Occupation set about the work of healing the devastated nation.

 

 After returning to the states and his studies, Hinchliffe remained actively involved with the Reserve Officers Training Corps for many years as an organizer and leader, culminating in his being named to the Boston University Alumni Hall of Fame in 2004.

 

 As he made the transition into civilian life, he continued his legacy of service.  In 1952, as soon as he and his late first wife Dorothy moved to Wellesley, he became a Town Meeting Member, and at his retirement a few years ago, after five decades had become one of the longest-serving TMMs in town history.

 

 "Dorothy and I chose to make Wellesley our home because we admired the family-oriented quality of life here," Hinchliffe said.  "We loved this town and never wanted to leave.  We felt strongly that all residents have the responsibility to work hard together to keep our shared hometown special, and to keep the values we treasure strong."

 

 And so over the past half a century, he has always been deeply involved in volunteer work.  Some of his service includes being President of the Wellesley Rotary Club, a Board member of the Wellesley Community Center, President of the Central Council PTA, a Board Member of the Wellesley Country Club (where he also scored a proud hole-in-one), a longtime member of the Wellesley Post of the American Legion, and a member of a variety of appointed or elected town government committees and boards.

 

 Recently, he was honored by the Trustees of the Wellesley Library Centennial Fund for his many years as Treasurer.  In tribute they have established the "Robert J. Hinchliffe Military History Collection" at the Wellesley Free Library.

 

 After retiring from his career as a C.P.A. with AT&T in order to care for his ailing wife, Dorothy, who died in 1989, he leant his financial expertise to many town organizations, working as a volunteer tax and health-care advisor for the elderly through the Council on Aging, and setting up and maintaining computer systems for a number of town groups.

 

 It was while he was volunteering at his church (St. Paul, where he has been the altar server at morning mass since he retired nearly 20 years ago) that he met and married Jeanne McMahan Giorgio.  They will celebrate their ninth wedding anniversary just before riding together at the head of this year's parade.  He is now step-grandfather to 13, nine of whom live in Wellesley.

 

 Switzler notes that Hinchliffe's daughter, Beth, is being honored as this year's Grand Marshal for her dedication to town, and says that shows the influence of his values and ideals.  "The fact that they will ride the parade route together is a symbolic representation of the importance of passing down from generation to generation the commitment to working to keep our hometown special," he said.

 

 "I am tremendously proud of this honor, and will cherish it always," Hinchliffe said.  "But I really accept it in the memory of so many men with whom I served and who were not as blessed as I was to return home."