Gov. Kathy Hochul commemorated Memorial Day on Monday by speaking at the newly established New York State Veterans Cemetery - Finger Lakes in Romulus.

The cemetery is New York’s first-ever state veterans cemetery. The site was established earlier this year after the lands of the Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery were transferred from Seneca County to the state. The cemetery is located on the grounds of the former Sampson Naval Training Station and Sampson Air Force Base.

"Memorial Day is a sacred reminder of the profound debt of gratitude we owe to our fallen heroes," Hochul said in a statement. "The first State Veterans Cemetery honors brave men and women and the sacrifices they made to defend our freedom, preserve our democracy and ensure our safety, and I am proud to commemorate this commitment to our veterans and their families to ensure they can rest in peace."

"Memorial Day is a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by our brave servicemen and women who laid down their lives in defense of our freedom,” New York State Department of Veterans' Services Commissioner Viviana DeCohen said in a statement. “It is a day to honor their memory, pay tribute to their selflessness, and express our eternal gratitude. The inaugural event at the first state veterans cemetery in New York is a poignant symbol of our commitment to ensuring a final resting place that befits the heroes who fought for our nation. May their legacy forever inspire us to cherish the values they fought for and uphold the ideals they held dear."

“It is a solemn day,” Hochul said. “And let us not forget that. It’s also a day of remembrance, a day of reverence, but also a day of reflection and a day to recommit to our values as American citizens.”

While Memorial Day was officially recognized as a federal holiday in 1971 as a day of mourning and remembrance for those killed while serving in the U.S. military, the town of Waterloo began a formal observance of the day on May 5, 1866. It was later proclaimed to be the holiday's birthplace. According to the governor’s office, veterans and civic leaders marched to Waterloo’s three cemeteries for remembrance services at the graves of fallen Civil War soldiers. 

“This area is steeped in military history,” Hochul said. “We know that people are so proud of the legacy of the work that was done, whether it’s the submarines being tested on the lake right here, the military base, the naval training base, the Air Force base, it all happened right here in this great county. That’s why we bleed red, white and blue here. This is part of our DNA as New Yorkers, but particularly those who are so proud to call this part of the state our home.”

The New York State Veterans Cemetery – Finger Lakes is on 162 acres of land. The site has 147 acres available for development and construction projects.