A groundbreaking ceremony took place on November 24, 2023, to mark the beginning of construction for the Veterans Memorial Center at the Fargo National Cemetery in Harwood, North Dakota. This new facility aims to enhance the experience for families of veterans and those paying their respects. Construction is set to start in the upcoming spring season at the cemetery located at 8709 40th Ave. N.
During the ceremony, Sen. John Hoeven joined members of the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard and various federal, state, and local leaders to officially break ground for the project. A notable attendee was Sam Brown, the Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, who is a U.S. Army veteran injured in Afghanistan. Brown expressed 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.”
Sen. Hoeven commended Brown for his dedication, saying, “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.”
The conceptual design for the more than 6,700-square-foot facility was developed by Icon Architects. It will feature an indoor committal shelter, a gathering area for families and friends, restrooms, a gallery to showcase veterans’ lives and service, office space for VA staff, a breakroom for Honor Guard members, a kitchenette, and a garage for a hearse. This new center will address the lack of amenities previously available at the cemetery, which initially covered five acres.
Funding for the project totals nearly $2 million, raised by the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard, supplemented by federal funding and a $3 million allocation from the state. Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, North Dakota’s Adjutant General, spoke on behalf of 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 stated.
In addition to the memorial center, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has completed a master plan to expand the Fargo National Cemetery from five acres to 35 acres. This expansion will involve federal funding for infrastructure improvements, enhanced access and parking, as well as ongoing operations and maintenance. To date, the cemetery has interred 1,337 veterans, and the first phase of the expansion is expected to add over 8,500 burial spaces, with completion anticipated by 2028. When all nine phases are concluded, the cemetery will provide more than 45,000 burial spaces, ensuring it continues to serve veterans and their families for generations to come.
“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,” Brown remarked, highlighting the long-term commitment to honoring the service of veterans.
