President Barack Obama paid tribute to the nation's fallen service members at Arlington National Cemetery, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns and saying Americans "can never fully repay the debt" to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.Speaking to military officers, families of the fallen and a crowd of roughly 5,000 gathered under sunny skies, he noted that this was the first Memorial Day in 14 years that has been observed without U.S. forces engaged in a major ground war.The president said most Americans still don't fully understand the sacrifice of the 1 percent serving in the nation's military.

He described Arlington National Cemetery as more than a resting place for heroes, but also as a reflection of America itself, including its history and diversity.

Closer to home, Long Islanders honored fallen military heroes with a memorial ceremony at Calverton National Cemetery, a parade in Hicksville, festivities in Plainview and much more across the Island.