LANETT — A well-attended Senior Citizens Appreciation Day took place Saturday at the Lanett Senior Center. The cafeteria area in the former Lanier High building was pretty much filled to capacity for a grilled hot dog/hamburger lunch; door prizes were awarded and entertainment provided by Katherine Grady and the Flournoy family.

“This is a day we honor you,” said Mayor Kyle McCoy. “We honor both those who are regular participants in our senior program and those who are visiting to check out what goes on here. We hope that some of you visitors who are eligible to join will sign up to come and be a part of what we are doing.”

Anyone who lives in the city limits and who is at least 55 years of age can participate. “No one needs to worry about transportation,” said Site Manager Tammy Hollis. “We provide that for you. We have buses that will go to your house and pick you up. You can come, enjoy the day with us and we will see that you get back home safely.”

“This center is for you,” the mayor added. “It’s for you to socialize, exercise in the gym, get a good meal five days a week and to have fun on trips and taking part in the Masters Games.”

One of the highlight trips of the year is to Talladega in May. Over 1,000 seniors from all across the state of Alabama are there for a day of making friendships and renewing old ones.

On Saturday, Rev. Rodney Jones and Trent McCants grilled hot dogs and hamburgers just outside the center. Most of the city’s department heads were on hand to take care of all the details to make everything go smoothly.

The big group really got into it when Kathryn Grady kicked things off by singing “This Little Light of Mine.” Everyone clapped and joined in the singing.

Council Member Tony Malone said that he was well pleased with the turnout.

“It’s so good to see so many seniors here today,” he said. “We are so pleased they came out on a day we wanted to honor them and let them know they mean so much to our city. We want to thank Kroger in Lanett and J. Smith Lanier Insurance for helping us with Senior Citizens Appreciation Day. Seeing the many smiles we have seen today makes it all worthwhile. This is the first time we’ve done something like this.”

Mayor McCoy added, “I’d like for us to do it again next year.”

The Lanett center will have approximately 20 participants in the 2018 Masters Games, which will be taking place at Valley Community Center.

“We like that,” said senior center member Floy Aikens. “We won’t have to travel that far.”

It will also be an opportunity for people around the state to tour Valley’s new, ultra-nice center.

“We have qualified a good many of our members for the state games,” said Hollis. “We have another qualifying round at the District meet in July. That will be at the Community Center as well.”