Groton – Gloria and Al Smith, married 63 years, ate Thanksgiving turkey with her sister and her sister's husband on Tuesday — along with more than 70 other people.

The couples attended the Groton Senior Center’s annual Thanksgiving luncheon, which served 73 seniors and several staff members a feast of turkey, apple and bread stuffing, gravy, green beans, honey ginger carrots, cranberry sauce, soup and rolls. Dessert was apple and pumpkin pies.

“When can I have a drumstick? I love a drumstick,” said Al Smith, 84, of Mystic. But, he added, “My favorite part of the meal is pumpkin pie.”

Then he held his wooden cane above his head and asked, “You know what they call this? I’m raising Cain.” His wife shook her head at him and laughed.

Across the table, Mary Ellen Walsh, 83, Gloria Smith’s sister, said the best part of the meal was that she didn’t have to cook.

“I don’t get waited on very often, you know,” she said.

“She’s treating me today,” said her husband, Richard Walsh, 83. "Just like she treats me every day."

Lamont Hill, chef at the senior center, started cooking Friday. This was his third Thanksgiving as head chef, though he's worked at the center 19 years. He planned for 90 people.

He roasted nine turkeys — eight, plus one just in case — and cooked five restaurant-sized pans of stuffing, four pounds of carrots, a case of green beans and 100 rolls.

“And my great experiment, the pumpkin pear soup,” he added. “First time I ever tried soup for the luncheon, but they seemed to enjoy it.”

Carol Pratt, senior center program supervisor, said the luncheon offered a Thanksgiving meal to seniors who might not otherwise have one, or have family nearby to share it with.

“Some people aren’t capable of making a big huge turkey feast,” Pratt said. “So this way, they get it.”

d.straszheim@theday.com

Twitter: @DStraszheim