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“Waterloo Remembers”
May 25-30, 2007

141st Consecutive
Memorial Day Observance
May 30, 2007

History of Memorial Day

Memorial Day Museum
Click here to View
a Slideshow of the Museum

"Memorial Day"
Song & DVD video

WGVA Radio 5/22/07

WNYR Radio 5/22/07

Our Sponsors

Our Committee

Co-chairs: Jane Shaffer, 315-539-3353
Dave Duprey, Village Trustee 315-539-9010

Memorial Day in Waterloo is more than the first holiday of the summer season. Much more!

For 141 consecutive years, people in the village of Waterloo have paused to remember the men and women who serve in the military. That's why, in 1966, Waterloo was named the official Birthplace of Memorial Day.

And for the past seven years, a dedicated committee has met monthly to plan Celebrate Commemorate, a celebration of their dearly-won freedom on the weekend before May 30.

This year's theme, "Waterloo Remembers" will pay tribute to our men and women in uniform by tying yellow ribbons on lightposts throughout downtown.

Additional yellow ribbons may be purchased at $5 each at Nugent's Hardware on Main Street, from committee members or at the information booth in Lafayette Park during the festival.

Visitors to Celebrate Commemorate will have an opportunity to show their support for our troops by adopting a soldier - or a whole platoon. Celebrate Commemorate has teamed with the Adopt a Soldier Now program featured recently on Extreme Home Makeover and the Adopt a Platoon program at Fort Drum, Watertown, and Fort Polk, Louisiana to allow people to connect with our men and women in uniform. Col. Mike Plummer of Fort Drum said his office has arranged adoption of 186 platoons in Afghanistan, 200 platoons in Iraq, 25 Aviation Units deploying now to Iraq, and 150 platoons that will deploy in September to Iraq. People who adopt promise to send letters to their platoon at least once a month and to send care packages to the soldiers several times throughout the year. Look for the yellow ribbons at the Celebrate booth at Celebrate Commemorate to sign up

Waterloo set a Guinness world record for the most American flags flying in a small community (25,898) in 2000," said Celebrate Commemorate co-chair Jane Shaffer. "This year, we hope to have thousands of yellow ribbons everywhere you look - on houses, cars, in store windows and such."

After all the celebrating, on May 30, in keeping with General John A. Logan's Orders,the village's veterans organizations will sponsor a solemn commemoration of the sacrifices of those who gave their lives for freedom.

The weekend events have become a village-wide family reunion with opening day ceremonies set for 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 25 in Lock Park off Locust Street. "President Abe Lincoln" will return to lead the dedication of the flagpole at the site of a planned American Civil War monument. There will be a procession of Civil War reenacters and local officials, and the Patriot Chorus will perform. Following the dedication ceremony, costumed and contemporary dancers will gather at the Community Center on Oak Street for a Civil War ball, with music by City Fiddle and Joyce Rossbach.

On Saturday, May 26, activities get under way at 8 am with a breakfast buffet and continue non-stop until the 10 pm fireworks show at the fairgrounds.

And in between, there will be encampments and cannon firings by Civil War groups, musical concerts and entertainments every hour on the stage at Lafayette park, train and wagon rides, historic walking tours, more than100 arts and crafts vendors, tea with Lincoln at the Gridley Inn and food of every variety. On Saturday at 11 am the Celebrate parade will step off and continue down Main St. to the park. Featured parade groups will include the comedy marching troupe the Hit Men, the award-winning South Seneca Elementary Band, martial arts demonstrators, school bands, Red Hat Society groups and youth organizations. Anyone can join the lineup. Contact Doris Wolf at 315-539-8302.

Sunday events include a breakfast buffet, a 5K run on a certified course through the village, and the always-popular car show, with antique and classic cars and Woodies parked along Main Street and conclude with a concert on the stage in Lafayette Park at 5:30 pm. Highlight of the day will be the dedication of a mural on the south side of the village offices. Muralist David Serotkin will work through the weekend, putting the finishing touches on the 90-foot by 30-foot mural that will feature the founders of Memorial Day, the Woodie cars that were manufactured in Waterloo, and other historic village scenes.

The National Memorial Day museum, the village's Terwilliger Museum, and the M'Clintock House, part of Women's Rights National Historical Park, will be open during the weekend and on Memorial Day (May 30).

On Wednesday, the official Memorial Day, Veterans organizations will gather at 10:30 to march from the VFW to Maple Grove Cemetery for services at 11. In the evening, the traditional Memorial Day parade will march down Main Street for ceremonies in Lafayette Park.

Rise and shine on Celebrate/Commemorate weekend with breakfast at the American Legion
On Saturday morning, May 26, a buffet breakfast will be served from 8 to 11 am at the Legion home at 1 E. Williams St. The menu includes scrambled eggs, meat, fruit cup, toast, juice, coffee and that Army staple, chipped beef on toast.

Start Memorial Day right with breakfast at the VFW
Waterloo Memorial Post 6433 VFW will serve breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 27th, at the post home on East Elisha Street. The menu includes scrambled eggs, home fries, pancakes, sausage, bacon, fruit cup, toast, juice and coffee. Cost is $7 per person.

ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW

LAFAYETTE PARK

Saturday May 26th & Sunday May 27th

10:00am – 5:00pm

Crafts/Vendor Application

World Renowned Artist, from Rochester
Diane Dengel

will be demonstrating her unique painting technique and will be selling her
work and dolls!

Over 100 Vendors! Featuring expert crafts from all over the area, things you have to see to believe – including but not limited to:
handmade wood items, paintings, jewelry, dolls & doll clothes, fudge, candles and oh so much more!

Horse and Wagon Tours

The popular horse and wagon tours will return to Waterloo for the Celebrate Commemorate weekend. Carl and Dot Blood of Rushville will bring their draft horses for a half-hour ride through the village. This
year the route will be expanded to include Bear Cemetery, the site of the proposed American Civil War Memorial and Oak Island.

Tours will run from noon to 3:30 p.m. Tickets, $1 for adults and children from grade 6 and older, will be available at the ticket booth on the east end of Lafayette Park.

That's where the tickets for the historic walking tour also will be available. Led by village historian Bea Contant and her team of guides, the tour follows the route of the walking tour brochure. Fascinating
facts about the village's colorful history will be explained. Tickets are $2 for the one-hour tour, which will be offered from 12:15 pm to 3:15 pm.

Classic, sports and antique cars will return to Waterloo on Memorial Day weekend for the sixth annual....

"Wheels on Main Street"

The seventh annual "Wheels on Main Street" show, Waterloo's largest car show, will be held on Sunday, May 27th, from 11 am to 4 pm. Registration will be from 9 am to 11am. There is no entry fee. Owners are invited to display their prized antique and classic cars,
sports cars, hot rods, motorcycles, antique tractors or anything on wheels! Once again, the Woodies are expected to gather on their annual spring tour. Woodie car bodies were manufactured in Waterloo in the 1950s. For more information or to pre-register, contact Lou LeBrun at lmlalebrun@rochester.rr.com or Rgood3@rochester.rr.com or Bob Good, 0712
Waterloo-Geneva Road, Waterloo, NY 13165 or 315-539-3162.

The first 100 entrants
will receive commemorative gifts.

Click here for an application

To register send your name, address, phone number with area code, club affiliation if any, vehicle make, year and model to:

Bob Good
0712 Waterloo-Geneva Road,
Waterloo NY 13165.
For more information, call
315-539-3162

Woodies too!!

The wooden station wagon bodies that once were produced in Waterloo will return to Waterloo's Celebrate Commemorate "Waterloo Remembers" festivities. Wood-bodied cars were favorites of the surfer crowd, and Woody trucks and buses were popular in the 1940s and 50s. Scores of the restored vehicles will be brought by their owners from across the country to participate in the weekend's festivities. They are expected to participate in the Freedom Parade on Saturday, May 27, will be on display on Main Street on Sunday, May 27th. The Woodies also will drive to wineries and other attractions in the area during their visit. For more information, e-mail Jim Vrooman.
Click here for an application

Civil War Encampments:

Reynolds Battery L.

The Reynolds Battery L. will set up their encampment on Oak Island in the village.

Reynolds Battery L. 1st NY Light Artillery was formed in 1982 to honor the original battery and educate the public about the Civil War. Members of Reynolds' Battery are all volunteer and come from as far away as Buffalo and Ithaca. The original Battery L, 1st New York Light Artillery, was raised by John A. Reynolds of Rochester, NY, in September 1861. Recruits were drawn mostly from Rochester, but ranged from all over Western & Northern New York, and Canada. On October 18, 1861, the Battery was officially mustered into the United States Army in Elmira, N Y. They were armed with the first six Model 1861 3" Ordnance Rifles in the country. From Elmira, the Battery was sent to West Virginia. Their first engagement occurred when a section under Lieutenant Loder came into action in Charleston, WV. On 28 August 1862, the Battery was transferred to the I Corps, Army of the Potomac, and it participated in all the engagements of that Corps until 1864, including Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. In March 1864, the Army of the Potomac reorganized and the I Corps merged into the V, which Reynolds' Battery served with through the end of the war, including the battles of Wilderness, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. Of the approximately 115 men who had originally joined the Battery, 25 still remained with the unit at the time it was mustered out of service on June 17, 1865. A total of 320 men entered service as members of Reynolds' Battery L. Of these, nine were killed or died from wounds received in action while 14 died from sickness contracted in service. In 1982, Frank Cutler gathered some like-minded reenactors and founded the 1st New York Light Artillery, Reynolds' Battery L. At first, the Battery had a 3/4 scale cannon, which was sold to raise money for another cannon and this pattern of making and selling was begun. Slowly, over the years, Reynolds' Battery began to reach its goal of fielding four 3" Ordnance Rifles with limbers The group received its first 3" Rifle in 1987, the second was fielded in 1996 and the third in 1997. Although the group members take their hobby very seriously, they have a lot of fun while educating the public and, most importantly, honoring those of the Civil War.

The 148th New York Volunteer Regiment of Infantry

The 148th will set up their encampment on Lock Park on Rt 96S in the village.

Future home of the

American Civil War Memorial

In the reenactment community, the 148th New York Volunteers are considered veterans. Established in 1962, the 148th is the oldest Civil War reenactment organization in New York State. Since its founding, it has participated in several hundred Civil War battle reenactments and hosted scores of living history events, marched in parades and given presentations for schools and historical societies. Even though the organization is built on a military impression, families participate in the recreation of a time in American history when everyone was touched by the events, not just the soldiers serving in Dixie. The original 148th was recruited from the Finger Lakes regions of New York. They were assigned to the Army of the James and served under Major General Benjamin "The Beast" Butler. Some of the battles they participated in were Drewry's Bluff, Cold Harbor, the Siege of Petersburg, Chaffin's Farm, Fair Oaks, the Appomattox Campaign, and the post-war occupation of the city of Richmond. They had five Medal of Honor recipients, and suffered more than 500 casualties. The 148th of today recruits its members primarily from the Finger Lakes area. In 1962, the 148th began with six members from the Ovid Camp of the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War. Membership in the SUV is a tribute to those "Sons of the Finger Lakes" who answered Lincoln's call for 300,000 more!

Museums Open
Visitors to Waterloo can learn about the history
of Memorial Day, the founding of the village
and the birth of the women's rights movement
at the village's museums and historical sites.

The Terwilliger Museum, open during the celebration weekend, illustrates the history
of Waterloo from its earliest
Native American residents at Skoi Yase.

Over the last year, the familiar Memorial Day Museum at 35 E. Main St. has undergone a transformation in keeping with its new status as the National Memorial Day Museum. Over the Celebrate Commemorate weekend, be sure to include a visit to our museum to view newly installed exhibits detailing the origins of Memorial Day in Waterloo, NY.

The new Civil War Room will take visitors through the story of the Civil War and how, through its unimaginable numbers of casualties, prompted a heightened culture of mourning and the creation of Memorial Day.

The new Memorial Day History Room features extensive exhibits on the major players of the Memorial Day concept, these being Henry C. Welles, Gen. John B. Murray and, of course, the venerable Gen. John A. Logan. The exhibit also highlights the 1966 Centennial in Waterloo that led to the recognition of Waterloo as the birthplace of Memorial Day. Also on display, an exhibit of historic images, poetry and prose that were generated throughout the 19th century to commemorate Memorial Day, then known as Decoration Day.

Wrapping up the new exhibits is a room devoted to the history and work of the Grand Army of the Republic or G. A. R. and the Women’s Relief Corps in carrying out the work of spreading the concept of Memorial Day, in the 19th and 20th centuries, throughout the nation.

We look forward to seeing you!

For more information, please call Waterloo Historical Society Curator, Tanya Warren at 315-406-3565

The M'Clintock House on East Williams Street, where the Declaration of Sentiments, the platform of the women's rights movement, was written, will also be open during the weekend. The home, called one of America's treasures, is now part of Women's Rights National Historical Park and is being restored by the National Park Service.

The M'Clintock House will be open Saturday May 26th and Sunday May 27th, from 12-5 p.m. Admission is free.

Train Excursions

Hop aboard the Red, White and Blue Express! Once again Finger Lakes Railway will offer its nostalgic train ride through Waterloo, Seneca Falls and over the Seneca River to the Montezuma Causeway at Seneca Lake and return. Entertainment will be offered on each trip. Performers
include: Saturday noon, magician Aaron Isaacs; Saturday 2 p.m. strolling musicians Merry Mischief; Saturday 4 p.m. guitarist and folksinger Steve Duprey; Sunday noon, Jim Hitchcock as Abe Lincoln; Sunday 2 p.m. Merry Mischief; Sunday 4 p.m. Seneca Soundwaves lady barbershop singers.

Tickets for the 1 1/2 hour ride are $10 per person, with children age 2 and under who sit on an adult's lap allowed to ride for free. This year, goodie bags will be given to all children who take the train ride.
Concessions and souvenirs will be available on board. Tickets must be purchased for a specific day and time. Advance sale tickets are available at Nugents Hardware, Seneca County Chamber of
Commerce and Finger Lakes Railway office on North Street in Border City. Any unsold tickets will be available for purchase on the day of the trip at the FLRR ticket booth in Lafayette Park near the railroad tracks. The railway also will have a display by Operation Lifesaver at its ticket booth. The display highlights safety measures on and around railroads.For more information on Celebrate Commemorate transportation, contact Transportation Czar Don Eichenhofer, 315-539-9641 or visit the Celebrate

2006 Race Results

Certified 5K Run # NY04023AM
Sunday, May 27th, 2006
With PCR DAG Timing System by Paul Richards, Results will be given immediately
at end of the race.

ENTRY FEE:
Pre-Registration fee is $12 - Day of Race $15.00
and all participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt,
scoresheet, and Photograph.

1st, 2nd, & 3rd place medals will be awarded in 9 age groups!

Plaques will go to the top three overall finishers.

5 K Walk/Run Race

More than 100 runners are expected to participate in the seventh annual Celebrate/Commemorate 5k walk and run on Sunday, May 27. Chairman Jack Sutliffe said the field has grown every year for this event, attracting runners from throughout the area. This year's event is certified NY04023AM. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with an 8:30 a.m. race start. The route will begin and end in Lafayette Park and will wind through the beautiful, historic village. Prizes will be awarded in various age categories. Each participant will receive a picture crossing the finish line and a Celebrate / Commemorate T-shirt. With PCR DAG timing system by Paul Richards, the results will be given immediately at the end of the race. Pre-registration before May 18 is $12. Registration the day of the race is $15.

To register or for more information, contact
Jack Sutliffe at 539-4348
sut@rochester.rr.com.

Click here for an application

Photo by Lori Duprey

The always-popular Patriot Pizza Eating Contest will again be featured at Celebrate/Commemorate. The fun begins at 3:45. Saturday, May 26, in Lafayette Park. The contest, sponsored by Ciccino's Pizzeria,
challenges contestants to down a pizza as fast as they can. "This is a contest of speed, not quantity," explained chair Jane Shaffer. "It's not how many pizzas you consume, but how fast you can chow down." Contestants may use any technique to consume the pizza. Popular methods are to fold the pie, roll up each slice and pile slice on slice, Shaffer said. The winner will be the first person to finish all the pizza, including the crust. Contestants throw up their hands and open their mouths when they are finished. The timing stops when a contestant swallows the last bite. Entry fee is $5 payable to Celebrate/Commemorate. Applications are available at Ciccino's or Nugent's Hardware. Winner will receive a $25 gift certificate from Ciccino's. For more information, contact Jane Shaffer at 315-539-3353.
FOOD CONCESSIONS:
* Celebrate Committee Food Booth - Hot Dogs- Hamburgs - Hot Sausage & Ciccino's Pizza *
* Cayuga Lake Creamery: Home Made Ice Cream *
* Wursthaus - German Food * Jim & Linda's Fried Dough & French Fries *
* Dar's Delights: Home Made Ice Cream* * Waterloo Lions - Strawberry Fest *
* Mo-Jo's Tacos; Hard and soft tacos, Nachos,Chimichanga, Fried cheesecake, Fried Ice cream, Jalapeno Poppers *
* Girl Scouts - Cotton Candy & Sno Cones * Wrap Sandwiches *

BREAKFAST BUFFETS:
All you can eat Breakfast Buffets:
Serving 8:00am - 11:00am Sat May 26th - Waterloo American Legion, 1 E William St. Sun May 27th - Waterloo VFW, 29 E Elisha St,

Food for everyone!

For more information please contact:
Bonnie Hosford
315-539-9240

BBQ'S By J&R Catering:
Sat May 26th -
Waterloo in Bloom Chicken BBQ
Sun May 27th - Waterloo Rotary Chicken BBQ

The popular Celebrate/Commemorate quilt will be available again this year. The queen-size quilt features pastel prints that were popular in the 1930s. They recall the "feed bag" prints popular in the 1930s, when thrifty farm wives made dresses from the fabrics that were used to make bags for cattle feed. The quilt was designed by Pam Jones, stitched by her, Judie Byndas and Mary Lou Haws and quilted by Cheri Alger. Tickets are available at $1 each or six for $5 and are available at Nugent's Hardware or at the Celebrate Commemorate booth in Lafayette park.

Drawing will be May 27.

A new tour boat service will debut as one of three special modes of transportation during Celebrate Commemorate Memorial Day in Waterloo May 25-30. One-hour narrated cruises on the "Rose Lummis" will be offered every two hours, with the first cruise at noon on Saturday and at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Tickets will be available at the Celebrate Commemorate information booth or in advance at Nugent's Hardware and the Seneca County Chamber of Commerce.

Captained by John Kenny, the enclosed 50-passenger boat will sail the Cayuga-Seneca Canal. Kenny will provide a narrated tour that begins at
Oak Island, and proceeds through the Waterloo Lock C-S 4 and on to Seneca Falls. An introductory fee of $10 per passenger will be offered
on May 26 and 27, Saturday and Sunday, during Celebrate Commemorate weekend.

Kenny, who has just earned his Captain's license, said operating the tour boat has been his dream for years. "People all over the world know
about the Erie Canal and its great history," Kenny said. "They are excited to have an opportunity to sail on the canal and I am excited to
provide that opportunity."

The tour boat was built by the Jefferson Boat Works. It has spent the past three years based in Sodus Bay. A "name-the-boat" contest is being
conducted on the company's website, www.fingerlakeswateradventures.com

Visitors to Celebrate Commemorate will have an opportunity to show their support for our troops by adopting a soldier - or a whole platoon.
Celebrate Commemorate has teamed with the Adopt a Platoon program of the Northern New York-Fort Drum Chapter at Fort Drum, Watertown, and Fort
Polk, Louisiana and the the Adopt a Soldier Now program featured recently on Extreme Home Makeover TV show to allow people to connect
with our men and women in uniform. "Regardless of your position on the war, it is important that we show our support of our men and women in uniform," said Celebrate Commemorate co-chair Jane Shaffer. During Celebrate Commemorate, the Waterloo VFW will be collecting items to be sent in care packages to our soldiers overseas. Yellow ribbons to display on homes and businesses also will be available for purchase.
"These Adopt A Soldier and Adopt A Platoon programs represent America at its best," said co-chair Dave Duprey. "It adds action to the patriotic
emotions that already bind us together." Sgt. Mike Plummer of Fort Drum said his office has arranged adoption of 186 platoons in Afghanistan, 200 platoons in Iraq, 25 Aviation Units deploying now to Iraq. He is currently working to find adopters of 150 to 180 platoons of about 3,500 soldiers That will deploy in September to Iraq. The platoons are adopted by Scout troops, 4-H clubs, school classes, Red Hat societies, organizations and businesses - and individuals. Most sponsors send monthly packages with magazines, games, puzzles, tapings of favorite TV programs, CDs or DVDs, Plummer said. Some sponsors get some school kids to make valentines and Christmas cards. Others send cookies or items in need like zip lock bags or cough drops,
he added. "Their needs will depend upon where your platoon ends up," he said "Some need more, others less. It's not really as important what you send as
that your Soldiers know that someone back home cares and appreciates what he or she is doing for us." Prior to deploying, sponsors are invited to a link-up meeting at Fort Drum, Plummer said. That will give people an opportunity to meet some of the soldiers in the platoon they are adopting prior to deploying. If the sponsors are too far away to come to Fort Drum, an electronic linkup can be arranged. Look for the yellow ribbons at the VFW/Celebrate booth at Celebrate Commemorate to sign up to Support Our Troops.

WATERLOO REMEMBERS SOLDIERS' SACRIFICES IN 141st ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY COMMEMORATION

Following the weekend of celebration, the Birthplace of Memorial Day pauses to remember the sacrifices of those who paid the ultimate price
for freedom. The 141st solemn remembrance of Memorial Day in Waterloo will be observed on Wednesday, May 30. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post
6433 and Warner-Van Riper American Legion Post 435 will conduct the remembrance events. Memorial Day is always commemorated on May 30 in Waterloo, in keeping with Gen. John A. Logan's Orders. The public is invited to gather at 8:30 a.m. in St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery on Stark Street for a full military service. At 10:30 a.m. marchers will leave the VFW at 29 West Elisha St. to go to Maple Grove Cemetery on Stark Street for military services at 11 a.m. The solemn remembrance will continue at 6 p.m. when the military parade steps off from Main and Clark streets, proceeding down Main Street to Lafayette Park where several veterans organizations will participate in the laying of the wreaths at the veterans monuments in the park. The program will include the recitation of the Gettysburg Address and Logan's Orders by students from Waterloo High School, the playing of the
National Anthem by the high school band, and the Salute to the Dead by the VFW firing squad and the playing of Taps. State Sen. Michael
Nozzolio and other dignitaries will speak. For more information, contact James Shaw at the American Legion, 1 E. Williams St., 315-539-8248 or Chuck Nightingale, VFW, 29 West Elisha St., 539-9771.

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“Waterloo Remembers” May 25-30, 2007

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