Members of the group Dathy and the Doo-Wops lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of the Star Spangled Banner to kick off the USO Show themed entertainment Thursday during the Seniors Celebrating Life expo at Harvey Convention Center in Tyler. (Andrew D. Brosig/Tyler Morning Telegraph via AP)

Hundreds of seniors celebrated life after the age 55 at Harvey Convention Center on Thursday.

The Seniors Celebrating Life Expo, an annual event hosted by the city of Tyler Parks and Recreation and the Chamber of Commerce, put on a USO show themed event, drawing more than 450 residents. The event featured dozens of vendors offering a wide array of products and services.

“This event started as an educational event. We have breakout sessions where seniors can actually attend classes,” Debbie Isham, parks and recreation manager, said.

The sessions covered topics such as prevention of scams and frauds, Medicare updates and veteran’s benefits.

Tyler Senior Center Supervisor Kay Odom was on hand to teach her award winning Texercise course.

“(The event) is a great way to come out and meet with your friends and have lunch today,” Mrs. Odom said.

Mrs. Odom has a passion for helping seniors remain active and outgoing. She said the senior center offers a variety of programs to help do so, including games, activities and even dances.

“That sedentary lifestyle should not be part of their life,” she said. “They need to keep moving, they need to keep exercising their brains.”

It’s apparent to everyone Mrs. Odom that she loves her job.

“When it is a passion and it’s something you love and believe in, then it isn’t a job,” she said. “Every day I get to go to the Tyler Senior Center, and I pray on the way that God will just put that person in front of me who needs that hug or that extra ear or they’ve lost a loved one and are grieving. There’s always some way that we can put ourselves out, because as you continue to give, the gifts keep giving.”

For more information about the Tyler Senior Center, visit parksandrec.cityoftyler.org/Facilities/SeniorCenter.aspx

Twitter: @TMT_Cory