It seemed like the whole town of Aquinnah showed up Sunday afternoon to honor Walter Delaney for his years of service as fire chief and more.

The town hall meeting room, the same place where Mr. Delaney, who is 81, presided for so many years as moderator over town meetings, was decked out for the party. Tables usually set up for town business were cloaked in tablecloths and covered with dishes of homemade food.

“It was overwhelming,” Mr. Delaney said of the gathering.

Mr. Delaney retired as fire chief at the end of October, after serving as chief for 17 years and deputy for four years before that. He also was a town selectman for nine years and town moderator for 35 years. He served on the town conservation commission for so many years that no one could remember precisely how many.

Selectmen and fire chiefs from around the Island attended. Mr. Delaney’s wife, Nancy, was there.

Mr. Delaney was presented with an American flag that had flown above the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., and a certificate of special Congressional recognition signed by Cong. William R. Keating.

Afterwards, Mr. Delaney said he and his wife wished they had put out a guest book. “But you know we came up with over 100 names, of people who came,” he said.

“We had more than enough in the first half hour for a quorum,” the former longtime moderator quipped.

“This is a small town. It was amazing. When something like this happens, it is touching to see that everyone turns out,” Mr. Delaney said.