The Down East Seniors Club held its Feb. 27 meeting at the Blind Center of North Carolina in Washington. President Charles Smith led the meeting. The singing of “God Bless America” was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Ed Bolen gave the invocation, and Ed Hamrick read factoids for the date in history. Several members provided humor.

Bill Cates introduced Gil Alligood as the speaker. Alligood is a retired civil engineer, retired U.S. Air Force/Air Force Reserve pilot and author. In 2005, he started writing his memoirs for his children. He stopped writing when he reached the part about flying in Vietnam because the memories were too difficult to record. Then he began writing fictional novels. He discovered this was not only enjoyable but also therapeutic. He has written and published four novels and is almost finished with a fifth. The first, “The Devil’s Pace,” is about a fictional Beaufort County girl in the 1950s. The next three, “Dark Paths to Light,” “Team Alpha,” and “Firsthand Knowledge,” are about a fictional couple in Raleigh who become involved in international espionage. All the locations described in the books are places he has visited during his Air Force career when he flew to 40 different countries.

Bob Diefendorf won the 50/50 drawing.

At the March 6 meeting, Bill Cheshire will present Russ Chesson to discuss the North Carolina Estuarium.

The Down East Seniors Club is a group of older men who meet Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Blind Center of North Carolina in Washington. They enjoy fellowship and an interesting program. Guests are welcome.