PARIS — Veteran of the Month at the Maine Veterans’ Home, William “Bill” Harvey was born on July 23, 1935 in Boston. He grew up in Braintree, Mass., and graduated high school in Marshfield, Mass.

Harvey enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in July of 1956. He was an Aviation Cadet, 3rd Class One Stripe Corporal. He trained new pilots and watched the radar and was even in the radio shack when the Russian sputnik satellite went into space. When asked if he had any special experiences in the Air Force, he said, “I was out on a flying lesson and while trying to land the plane it got caught in wire and crashed, but thankfully I lived to tell the story.” Harvey was honorably discharged in 1958.

After the service Harvey worked as a carpenter and in 1960 he married the love of his life and moved to the west coast, where his wife was accepted to college and earned her Ph.D. in psychology. They had three children and adopted one. Throughout Harvey’s careers he owned two laundry mats (Sun Shine Laundry Centers), was a real estate broker, a student and a CNA working for the V.A.

Harvey came to the Maine Veterans’ Home in December 2008 and currently resides on the Residential Care Unit. He has enjoyed hobbies such as fishing, hunting and anything to do with cars. At the veterans home he actively attends Resident Council meetings, bingo, horse racing, group outings, men’s group and music entertainment. He has traveled throughout the United States; there are only three states that he has not visited.

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