Stephen Sexton, from the Hell Neck area of Gloucester, recently completed crocheting a huge American flag, measuring eight feet, four inches, squared. It took him more than four months to complete his project, using 17 one-pound skeins of wool yarn. He said he was motivated to keep working on the flag to have it completed to honor all the American veterans on Veterans’ Day.

Sexton’s accomplishment is amplified by the fact that when he was born the doctors told his family that he would live no more than 8 years. When he was 10 years old, in the hospital recovering from a stroke, he became bored with his therapy. He asked his mother to teach him how to crochet, and he’s been doing that ever since, improving his skills over the years.

Besides crocheting several beautiful afghans for his neighbors, he is now working on another American flag that will be even grander than the one just completed.

"I really enjoy keeping my hands and mind busy through crocheting, and...