Rockland County held its Memorial Day remembrance ceremony Friday morning at the Gulf War Memorial in Haverstraw Bay Park.

Dozens of veterans made an appearance to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our freedom.

"It was a very challenging moment, a very trying moment for all of us who knew him, and well, it still is today at this very moment," said Army veteran Ronny Diz, of Garnerville. He joined dozens of other veterans to tie a ribbon to a wreath for the fallen.

"I lost a good friend of mine that was in my Army Reserve Unit. Ronald Bucca, he was a fire marshal. He saved a lot of people going into the [Twin] Towers," said Valley Cottage resident Ismael Quintana. He honored a man who dedicated his life to service, dying on 9/11 as a member of the FDNY.

"A real true hero, who like Military veterans, who go in the face of danger, who go towards danger and don't retreat," Quintana added.

This Memorial Day honors over 1 million men and women who died in military service since the Civil War, according to government statistics.

Rockland officials asked that residents honor those who died in military service to honor them on Memorial Day Monday.

"At the barbeque or the pool, or whatever you're doing, which are part of the securities secured by these brave men and women, have a moment of silence to remember what it took to get that," said Rockland County Executive Ed Day.