The New York State Military Museum highlights the contributions made by New Yorker's throughout America's military history. With Memorial Day weekend underway, our Beth Croughan learned about a recent exhibit aimed at honoring those that made the ultimate sacrifice in our most recent conflicts.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- "They have all stepped forward and raised their hand when their nation and their state called, and said 'here I am take me." And in the course of their operations they've paid the ultimate sacrifice." We recognize that every year. Those of us who wear the uniform know that that's one of the possibilities in the time of our service," said Lieutenant Colonel Richard Goldenberg, the Public Affairs Officer for the New York National Guard.

Each year, the New York National Guard marks Memorial Day with a ceremony at the State Headquarters for the Division of Military and Naval Affairs. Since 2001, 32 members have died while serving overseas.

"They come from every corner of the state of NY. Every ethnicity, every race, creed, color and religion," Goldenberg said of the soldiers.

The stories of the fallen are familiar to the NY National Guard family. But by making their faces familiar to those that visit the New York State Military Museum, Goldenberg hopes to remind others to remember this holiday.

Images of those New Yorker's killed during recent conflicts hang in the halls of the museum.

"Remember that we all know that freedom is not free. This exhibit here at the museum is a real reminder that there's a price to be paid," he said of the exhibit.

The "Faces of the Fallen" is part of an exhibit highlighting the National Guard's role in Afghanistan and Iraq. Nearly 9,000 members have been mobilized and deployed since 9/11.

"It's a very real and personal story. I think that's more directly connected then a lot of the distant historical stuff that is portrayed in some of the other exhibits," said NYS Military Museum Curator Courtney Burns.

A story connected to the Capital Region, as the exhibit honors Specialist Nathan Brown of South Glens Falls and Sergeant David Fisher of Green Island.