A Manatee County World War II veteran is spending his days crocheting to keep injured and disabled veterans in the Bay area warm.
Vern Farnham of Parrish spends the majority of his days crocheting colorful and beautiful afghans. The nearly 91-year-old learned the art during the Great Depression.
“My mother taught me how to crochet,” Farnham said.
However, he had to stop when he was sent to the front lines to fight during World War II.
“It was a killing field and it was terrible,” he said.
Farnham earned a Bronze Star for his bravery. Today he continues to serve his country. Each one of his beautiful afghans is given to a sick or disabled veteran at Bay Pines Medical Center.
“I thought, I wanted to something for the veterans, so I started crocheting,” Farnham said.
It takes Farnham more than 25 hours to complete each afghan. So far he has made more than 400 for local veterans.
Since he always has a crochet hook in his hand, Farnham's wife, Betty Farnham, has a special nickname for him.
“When he crochets it's Captain Hook," she said.
Farnham says he has no plans on ever stopping.
“I’ll keep going. It’s more blessed to give then to receive,” he said.
Farnham receives dozens of "thank you" cards from veterans that receive his afghans. He says he reads and saves everyone of them.