BOSCAWEN -- Among thousands of gravesites decorated with American flags, as hundreds of veterans and family members of fallen veterans looked on, Col. Peter Corey sent a message to Americans who have lost the meaning of Memorial Day.

Corey, speaking at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery Memorial Day Service, noted that businesses take advantage of the day with Memorial Day sales, news reports talk about gas prices, and grocery stores are packed with people trying to get food and drink for Memorial Day barbecues every year.

But few, he said, actually take time to pause and give thanks to those who have fought and are fighting for freedom.

“Memorial Day is not a day to mark the start of summer,” said Corey, who is the director of the Joint Staff of the New Hampshire National Guard.

“Ours is an enviable society,” he said. “Let us never forget those who have fought and paid the price for our freedom in this country.”

The ceremony, which featured Gov. John Lynch and Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte as speakers, drew huge numbers. There were 500 programs printed, but none could be found on the grounds after the crowd arrived, a cemetery official said.

Ayotte, too, spoke of the need to look beyond the holiday aspects of Memorial Day. She said she is reminded of the need to remember America's service men and women each day in Washington when she passes the Lincoln Memorial.

Among the many inscriptions at the memorial is a key phrase, she said: “We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.”

“It reminds us that in every generation, we must commit ourselves to honoring all of those (who are fighting and have fought) so that we can stand here today, in this cemetery, free people,” she said.

“Let us also recommit ourselves to continue to honor our active-duty military, our (national) guard, and our veterans,” Ayotte said.

“Let's also take a moment for people who today are still in harm's way.”

Shaheen said the remembrances and honors should also go beyond active-service men and women and veterans on Memorial Day.

“We remember their families,” said Shaheen. “As all of us here know, none of them would be able to serve without the support of their families.”

Lynch thanked the state's veterans for their service, from those who fought in the Revolutionary War to those still fighting in Afghanistan.

“We are so fortunate that our men and women have risen to meet the challenge,” he said, looking into the crowd, which included many veterans in full dress uniforms. “To me and to all of us, you and all veterans are heroes.”