By Linda Greer

news@joplinglobe.com

NEOSHO, Mo. — Six weeks in the planning, the eighth annual Senior Citizen Appreciation Banquet on Friday went as smoothly as organizers hoped.

“Of all the events we do in a year, this is my favorite,” said Bekah Peters as she walked through the packed Neosho Middle School gymnasium taking pictures for the school district’s Web page.

Peters said one of the most moving parts of the program for her is to watch the veterans in the audience stand, many with walkers and wheelchairs, as the Neosho High School Choraleers sing the national anthem.

“It gives me goose bumps,” Peters said. “We don’t see that kind of patriotism much any more.”

Peters, a human resources manager for the R-5 School District, was among more than 300 district employees, students and volunteers who helped in some way with the banquet that fed 950 area senior citizens this year.

Banquet co-organizer Crystal Heiskell said committee members begin planning for the event around Oct. 1.

Invitations are sent, business sponsors are sought and food suppliers are contacted, she said.

As soon as the event is over, organizers meet again to discuss what they might have done better.

“We’ve learned something every year to make an improvement,” Heiskell said.

Food, door prizes, gift bags, printed material and decorations are donated by area businesses, said Superintendent Richard Page.

The traditional turkey dinner was prepared throughout the district’s school cafeterias and served by the high-school students. Some food preparations were started the night before the banquet, while the bulk of the meal was begun at 7:30 a.m. Friday.

When the last meal was brought to the table, Page said, “All the food was served in 20 minutes. What an accomplishment.”

While the diners ate, they were treated to musical performances by the high-school jazz band, middle-school choir, Benton Elementary fourth-grade choir and the high-school Sugar and Spice dance group.