There may be 99 years between the two, but both Pauline Jaeger and Jack Deitz are pros at making snow angels.ll keep it forever," Paaverud said of the record. "And we'll see what Michigan has to say about that."

The two were recognized Wednesday for being the oldest and youngest, respectively, participants in the snow angel record set on Feb. 17 on the Capitol grounds.

Little Jack Deitz was only 6 weeks old, wrapped tight in a turquoise snow suit, at the time of the February snow angel event. But with the help of his mother, Steph, he flapped his arms in the snow with the rest of the family: three older brothers, also snow angel pros, dad Jonathan and mom.

"We did it just thinking it would be fun,"Steph Deitz said, adding that it will be neat to show him the picture when he gets older.

Pauline Jaeger was 99, and is now looking forward to her 100th birthday, which happens to be on Feb. 17.

She said she probably won't be making any snow angels this year, although she said she loved laying down and wiggling her toes in the snow last year.

A ceremony and reception was held Wednesday afternoon at the Capitol to celebrate the record-breaking 8,962 people who simultaneously flapped their arms in the snow on that historic day. Participants in the record, organized by volunteers and headed Marilyn Snyder of the State Historical Society of North Dakota, were given certificates and a picture of the history-making event. Activities continue from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today.

In honor of the record, Gov. John Hoeven proclaimed Dec. 26 as Snow Angel Day; cheers resounded through the Capitol building as people shouted "Thank the volunteers!" after the proclamation.

The snow angel record was originally set in North Dakota in 2002, then broken in 2006 in Michigan. Not to be outdone, North Dakotans nearly tripled the Michigan record this year.

On Wednesday, people returned to the scene of the deed to enjoy the day’s festivities, including live music and a reception, although the numbers were a little shy of the nearly 9,000 people who had attended on Feb. 17.

That may be due to the diversity of the original group, which apparently not only spanned the state, but drew participants from around the nation and the world.

According to Merl Paaverud, director of the State Historical Society of North Dakota, snow angel makers represented 142 towns, 17 states, six Canadian provinces, five countries and five continents.

"We'

(Reach reporter Crystal Reid at 250-8261 or at crystal.reid@bismarcktribune.com)