SOUTH PARIS — Franklin C. Emery was recently named Veteran of the Month at Maine Veterans’ Home.

Emery was born on May 14, 1916, in Portland. He graduated from Deering High School and attended Northeastern University in Boston, Mass. He graduated with a degree in industrial engineering and became certified to work on diesel engines after attending diesel school in Brookline, Mass.

On Jan. 17, 1942, he married Mildred L. Bell and they settled in Westbrook. He worked as a welder at the South Portland Shipyard and enlisted in the Coast Guard Reserves Flotilla 201 out of Portland on Jan. 11, 1944. He served as a seaman 2nd class and was a deck engineer on a Liberty ship.

Emery and his crew were sent to Europe where they were part of the flotilla of ships that kept the supplies going to the allies. He saw service in England, France, Wales and Belgium, and served for six months on a Liberty ship that he had helped build.

He spent a year in Europe and then was discharged on June 28, 1945. Emery received the European Theater Campaign Medal for his service. When he returned to Westbrook, he became an insurance salesman and set up his own agency, Franklin C. Emery Real Estate and Insurance.

Emery was an avid skier and was an active part of the Maine Ski Patrol for 40 years. He has been a trustee of the Portland Seamen’s Friend Society for more than 70 years and served as the executive secretary for 50 years. He was also past president of the Maine Ski Council and past president of the Westbrook Rotary Club.

Emery became an Eagle Scout in 1930 and was a scout leader for several years. He and Mildred had two sons and they were an integral part of Frank’s side business – making ski wax for racers. He made the wax in his basement and sold it all around New England.

During the summers, the family would move to their cottage on Sebago Lake. He loved to go boating and had many adventures sailing boats between Maine and Canada. One of his trips involved taking Ted Williams for a cruise around Casco Bay. Frank and Mildred were married for 62 years and enjoyed being grandparents to their five grandchildren.

Emery is a member of the Maine Ski Hall of Fame, a lifetime member of the Down East Ski Club and a lifetime certified alpine official. He served as a racing official at races in Maine and Colorado. He loves to tell stories of the people he has met, the places he has travelled to and mountains he has skied on.

He has written about his boating adventures as well and is still active in scouting. Emery came to the Maine Veterans’ Home in September 2009 and lives on the residential care unit.