Many Long Islanders spent Memorial Day visiting Calverton National Cemetery to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

The cemetery is the final resting place for thousands of heroes.

For some, visiting the cemetery is a yearly tradition. Every year, Wantagh resident Christina Gray visits the grave of her father, Daniel Rafferty, who fought in World War II. Gray says she brings her daughter, who never got the chance to meet Rafferty, and tells her about the man he was.

Air National Guard Col. Jeffrey Arndt told the crowds that he hopes everyone remembers the sacrifice made by the men and women of the military, and that freedom has always come with a price.

"The things that we can do on Memorial Day, go boating or whatever we choose to do, it's all because of those soldiers and the things they did, dating through all the wars of this great nation," Arndt said.