A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Veterans Memorial Center at the **Fargo National Cemetery** took place on **November 24, 2023**, marking the start of a significant construction project aimed at enhancing support for families of veterans. This facility, located at **8709 40th Ave. N., Harwood, North Dakota**, is set to begin construction in the upcoming spring of 2024.
Senator **John Hoeven**, along with members of the **Fargo Memorial Honor Guard**, federal, state, and local officials, gathered in chilly conditions to celebrate this important milestone. Among the attendees was **Sam Brown**, the **Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs** and a U.S. Army veteran who suffered severe injuries from a Taliban bomb in 2008 while serving in Afghanistan. Brown highlighted the significance of the new center, stating, “It’ll be a place where we don’t have to stand in the cold and the wind to comfort those families, the families who’ve lost their loved ones.”
Hoeven recognized Brown’s contributions and those of others involved in bringing the center to fruition. He expressed gratitude for their dedication, noting, “He jumped on this with two feet. He has been an absolute tiger, and that’s why we’re able to do this on this beautiful day in November in North Dakota.”
Facility Features and Funding
The **Veterans Memorial Center**, designed by **Icon Architects**, will span over **6,700 square feet** and include several essential amenities. The facility will feature an indoor committal shelter, a gathering area for families and friends, indoor restrooms, and a gallery showcasing the lives and service of veterans. Additional spaces include offices for VA staff, a breakroom for Honor Guard members, a kitchenette, and a garage for a hearse.
Funding for the project totals nearly **$2 million**, which has been raised by the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard, supplemented by federal funding and a **$3 million** allocation from the state of North Dakota. **Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann**, the North Dakota Adjutant General, addressed the state’s financial commitment on behalf of **Governor Kelly Armstrong**, who was not present at the ceremony. Dohrmann stated, “It’s something the state didn’t have to do, but something the state is just hard-wired to do, to make sure that we take care of our veterans, our families, our survivors and all that served.”
In addition to the memorial center, the **U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs** has completed a master plan to expand the cemetery from five to **35 acres**. This expansion will include improvements to infrastructure, access, and parking, ensuring ongoing operations and maintenance are adequately funded.
Future Expansion Plans
As of now, **1,337 veterans** are interred at the Fargo National Cemetery. The first phase of the expansion project will increase the burial capacity to over **8,500** spaces, with completion expected by **2028**. Once fully realized, the cemetery is anticipated to accommodate more than **45,000** burial spaces, ensuring that veterans and their families receive the recognition and support they deserve for years to come.
Brown expressed appreciation for the opportunity to expand the cemetery, emphasizing its long-term impact: “I’m grateful that we have the opportunity to expand the cemetery… (that) will continue to serve without any additional expansion through at least **2050**.”
The new **Veterans Memorial Center** is poised to become a vital resource for veterans and their families, providing a comforting space for remembrance and reflection.
