VALLEY — Men taking part in the City of Valley’s senior program celebrated Fathers Day a couple of days early this year. While Sunday is the day Fathers Day is celebrated nationwide, the men who take part in senior center activities had an extra day to be appreciated on Friday. Each one present received small gifts, were commended for the role they’d taken on in raising children and had a song sung in their honor.

“Even if you don’t have any children of your own, I still consider you a father,” said Site Director Melissa Pitchford. “I know you have nurtured children over the years. That makes you a father to me.”

Each man was given a small flashlight and a small pocketknife to mark the occasion. Senior center member Ann Bullock sang “My Daddy’s Hands.”

“If I could live my life over,” went the chorus, “I would never take for granted the love in my daddy’s hands.”

Marilyn Suttles read some familiar words from the Book of Exodus: “Honor thy father and thy mother so that you will live long in the land your God is giving you.”

The men present had their names put in a drawing. The names pulled were Ed Davis, Harold Ross and Robert Yarbrough. Davis and Ross each received a Father’s Day drinking mug and Yarbrough a thermos.

Valley Senior Center now has approximately 45 active members. They meet at the center five days a week for a hot meal, take part in Masters Games events and often make out-of-town trips. Last month, they went to the May Day event at Talladega Superspeedway. On Wednesday, July 3 they will be having an Independence Day celebration by grilling hamburgers on the grounds outside the Community Center and playing games such as horseshoes and cornhole. Pitchford, who has been the site manager since April, is also planning for them to take a riverboat ride on the Alabama River near Montgomery.