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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- State officials, troops and family members of troops and of fallen soldiers gathered at the Elks Lodge in Saratoga Springs for "Yellow Ribbon Day."

A ceremony was held Friday in memory of all those who sacrifice their lives to fight for our country and freedoms.

Yellow Ribbon Day was created with the help of Senator Roy McDonald, Assemblyman Jim Tedisco and Congressman Chris Gibson. The three were in attendance at the event, along with Navy, Army and Air Force servicemen and women.

"What's Yellow Ribbon Day mean? I think all of us here are reminded and thinking inside our head, we have the best, the brightest, we have the most courageous and just as important, we have the most compassionate fighting force in the entire world and we know it," said Tedisco.

Donations were also collected for the Blue Star Moms of New York so they can continue to send packages to those fighting for the United States overseas.

Yellow Ribbon Day was started in memory of a sergeant who was captured at Iraq's Baghdad International Airport in 2004.