Hundreds gathered this Memorial Day weekend at the Saratoga National Cemetery to honor and remember the lives lost by those who have served the country.

“That’s why it feels important for me to be here, to honor the people who can’t be here,” Korean and Vietnam War veteran Robert Garland said.

The powerful ceremony brought veterans and families from across the state.

While many of these soldiers in the Saratoga cemetery have been laid to rest for decades, some attendees say not a day goes by that they don’t think about the sacrifice of their friends, family, and fellow comrades.

“There’s many nights I wake up thinking about it,” Korean War veteran Paul O’Keefe said. “And I think about it a lot today. But what beautiful music they played and this was a beautiful day. God is good to us.”

Just 100 yards from the ceremony are thousands of graves of those who fought for their country.

On Saturday many families and friends came out to visit with their loved ones.

“Yeah that’s my son John Canfield. He was U.S. Air Force pararescue. He served in the Persian Gulf,” James Canfield said pointing at his son’s grave.

James has come here for 15 years to pay respects to his son. John fought overseas, and was a hero on U.S. soil as well, working to rescue people during 9/11.

“Well how proud could you be of a son as good as him,” Canfield said. “He was the best. He’s just a soft, easy go guy. But he could do anything.”

As part of a tradition, he leaves a Budweiser bottle by his son’s grave with this message.

“Raise that Budweiser and I’d say, John let’s have a beer,” Canfield said.

James even shared memories with fellow attendees who lost loved ones, like Gladys Ryan who has been visiting her late husband for the last 17 years.

Although a Navy man, she says with a laugh that he never saw a boat as he worked in reconnaissance. His memory still brings a smile to her face.

“He’s a good man. Everyone loved him,” she said.

Ceremonies like Saturdays mean a lot to Ryan, but she reminds everyone to always celebrate the lives of these veterans.

“You keep their legacy alive daily. It’s not just a special day,” Ryan said. “You always think of them. You always remember them.”