PWC senior citizens celebrate Older Americans Month at Camp Snyder in Haymarket

A substantial crowd of Woodbridge and Manassas senior center members recently gathered for the annual Older Americans Month celebration.  They gathered at Boy Scout Camp William B. Snyder to dance, visit, eat, play games participate in a scavenger hunt, take a Zumba class and enjoy outdoor walks around the camp.

Manassas Senior Center Site Manager Susan Gilbert said the gathering offers consistently good fun each year, according to a county news release.

The Area Agency on Aging sponsors the event to honor residents who are 55 and older in Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park. Although the two senior centers in Manassas and Woodbridge offer activities all year round, the Older Americans Month event stands out as a special occasion, the news release said.

“We celebrate nationally every single year, and it is our way of recognizing older adults in Prince William County who are 55 years and older,” Gilbert said. “We are just so excited because everybody turns out. They have a good time. They take part in dancing and the information tables. They have lunch, and they love it.”

Mike Yates and his wife, Drema, joined the Manassas Senior Center a few months ago and visit the senior center almost every day. This year’s celebration was new for them.

“This is our first time being here. We’ve enjoyed being out here interacting with people. It’s a lot of fun to come out and just enjoy a little recreation,” said Mike Yates, who retired in 2008.

Leon Washington has been a member of the Woodbridge Senior Center for 22 years and has attended the celebration every year since.

“I’ve been coming for so many years. I like the music. I’m a music man,” said Washington, a New York State Police Department retiree. “It’s good to see the people from Manassas.”

Prince William County Executive Chris Shorter, accompanied by other members of county leadership, helped serve boxed lunches to those in attendance.

“I see the joy that this event brings to our older residents,” Shorter said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate how much we appreciate them.”