WATERLOO - As a rain-soaked crowd cheered and waved flags, Celebrate/Commemorate Co-chairman Jane Shaffer announced that Waterloo has set a record in Guinness Book of Records.

On May 29, 2000, there were 25,898 flags flying in the village. "I am proud and honored to announce that our efforts to establish a Guinness world record were successful," Shaffer told the crowd gathered at the Seneca County Fairgrounds to celebrate the close of the Memorial Day festivities. "Keep flying the flag to show your pride in your community and your country."

In April 2000, members of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and 4-H Clubs canvassed the village to sell flags and announce the record-setting effort, then returned on Saturday, May 29, to count the flags. Businesses and schools papered their windows with flags, homeowners flew flags from their flagpoles, stuck flags on wooden staffs along their sidewalks, and clustered flags on their lawns.

Co-chair Kim Pfeiffer said it took months to assemble the required documents to submit to Guinness headquarters in England. She sent photos, videos, statements from local officials, and news clippings. Some documents mailed in August were apparently lost in the mail, and Pfeiffer sent duplicates. In December, she was informed the judges needed more clippings and photographs. That shipping was mis-delivered to Ireland. Finally, she learned via e-mail that the record had been verified to the judges' satisfaction. On May 26, a special delivery arrived in Lafayette Park as this year's Celebrate/Commemorate activities were getting under way. "We are writing to let you know that the most national flags displayed in a single town in one day has now officially been accepted as a record by Guinness World Records," the letter read. It was accompanied by a certificate acknowledging Waterloo's successful record set on May 29, 2000, "commemorating the town of Waterloo's historical role as the birthplace of the Memorial Day holiday." The certificate was signed by S. A. Newport, Keeper of the Records for Guinness World Records Ltd. "It was a long struggle, but it was worth it," said Pfeiffer. "Everyone in Waterloo can be proud of helping us reach this significant international honor."