Senior Gala is tonight!

“I’ve got butterflies in my stomach,” said L.J. Moyer, a week ago at her Century 21 real estate office in Ladysmith.

“I’ve got some really long ‘To Do’ lists!”

She’s responsible for the success of the Senior Gala, a grand Christmas party for Caroline’s older citizens, which happens tonight, Thursday, Dec. 3.

Many of these seniors, some isolated, some in wheelchairs, may have little other Christmas cheer, she said. Tonight’s Christmas bash is designed to light up their holiday.

Arriving at the Caroline High School gym, starting at 6 p.m., almost 600 Caroline senior citizens are expected for a full-course dinner, at no charge, with dancing to the live music of Richmond band Center Stage, specializing in Motown, R&B and Beach Music.

For this Caroline Rotary community project, Moyer has been the Gala committee chair for the last 16 Galas, which first started in 1999.

She recalled how, back in 1999, Lloyd Fox, owner of Fox Insurance, said to his fellow Rotarians, “We need to do something for our seniors.” The idea for the Gala was born.

There were just 50 seniors at that first Gala; now more than 10 times that number are expected tonight.

Crucial to the event’s success are the contributions of the staff and students at Caroline High School. “Chef Jazz,” culinary teacher, will supervise his students in the huge feat of serving hot full-course dinners to almost 600.

“He has done a wonderful job with the kids and they just love him,” she said, noting that the event provides excellent job experience for the students.

Crucial too is the involvement of the Beta Club, Honor Society, Interact Club and Junior ROTC. On a newly-acquired red carpet rolled out, the cadets will escort the ladies into the gym and give each a red rose.

Essential support for the Gala comes from Caroline small businesses. “Small businesses have been more consistent with donations than corporations,” she said. The generosity of the donors will be recognized at the event, along with the support of the Caroline Board of Supervisors.

Moyer, recently recovered from a broken hip, attributed the first stirring of her passion for community service when, as “Miss Virginia 1971,” she visited hospitalized wounded troops in Vietnam on a USO tour.

Witnessing their sacrifice, she said, with many gravely wounded, missing limbs and heavily bandaged, “Instilled something in me. It was heart-wrenching to see that.”

In recent years, her compassion was further stirred visiting invalids at Bowling Green Rehabilitation Center. Many of these will attend tonight.

With the 2015 Gala, 44 years after that profoundly moving USO tour, L.J. Moyer continues her mission to contribute significantly to society. Where once she was a Miss Virginia comforting wounded soldiers, she now is a Rotarian and business leader bringing Christmas cheer to Caroline seniors.