A groundbreaking ceremony took place on November 24, 2023, for the new Veterans Memorial Center at the Fargo National Cemetery in Harwood, North Dakota. This facility aims to provide significant comfort and support to families of veterans and those who honor their service. Construction is set to commence in the next building season at the cemetery located at 8709 40th Ave. N.
Among those present at the ceremony were Senator John Hoeven, members of the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard, and various federal, state, and local leaders. The event featured a special appearance by Sam Brown, the Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, who emphasized the importance of the center. A U.S. Army veteran himself, Brown has personal experience with the challenges faced by families, having been severely injured in Afghanistan in 2008. He remarked, “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.”
Senator Hoeven acknowledged the efforts of Brown and other contributors in making the Veterans Memorial Center a reality. He stated, “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 Details and Funding Sources
The new facility, designed by Icon Architects, will encompass over 6,700 square feet. It will feature an indoor committal shelter, a gathering area for family and friends, restrooms, a gallery to honor veterans’ lives, office space for Veterans Affairs staff, and a kitchenette. The project also includes a garage to accommodate a hearse.
Funding for the Veterans Memorial Center is supported by nearly $2 million raised by the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard, complemented 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 contribution, representing Governor Kelly Armstrong, who was unable to attend. “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,” Dohrmann said.
Future Expansion Plans
In addition to the new center, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has completed a master plan to expand the Fargo National Cemetery from its current five acres to 35 acres. Funding will be allocated for infrastructure improvements, including enhanced access and parking, as well as ongoing operations and maintenance.
As of now, there are 1,337 veterans interred at the Fargo National Cemetery. The first phase of the expansion will increase burial spaces to over 8,500 and is expected to be completed by 2028. Ultimately, the cemetery is designed to accommodate more than 45,000 burial spaces, ensuring that veterans and their families will be served well into the future. Brown expressed gratitude for the expansion, noting, “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.”
