People gathered in Farmingdale Sunday to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.

The Long Island Air Force Association organizes a ceremony every year at the American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale.

Long Island residents Richard Abeles, Gerard Barbosa and Seymour Blood were all there on the day of infamy, and managed to survive the surprise attack conducted by the Japanese Navy against the U.S. in Hawaii on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941.

More than 2,400 Americans were killed, and the attack led to U.S. involvement in World War II.

Even though it was 73 years ago, the men say they remember Pearl Harbor like it was yesterday.

"I'm running as fast as I could to get to my gun station," recalls Barbosa. "I don't know how I managed not getting hit."

The ceremony concluded with the flyover of a vintage aircraft that carried 73 red roses, plus one white rose to symbolize the Sept. 11 attacks. The roses were dropped over the Statue of Liberty to remember the lives of those who proudly served.