10/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/07/2024 17:42
FARGO, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven, joined by the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard, Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney, Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson, West Fargo Mayor Bernie Dardis and FMWF Executive Director Shannon Full, today announced a community plan to develop a Veterans Memorial Center at Fargo National Cemetery (FNC). This follows Hoeven's efforts as a member of the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Committee to secure an expansion and enhancements for FNC, with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) having purchased land to expand the cemetery's footprint from 5 to 35 acres. The expansion comes with significant investment by the VA, both in developing a new master plan for adding infrastructure to the land, as well as ongoing operations, staffing and maintenance.
Hoeven has since been working to coordinate efforts among veterans groups, local stakeholders and the VA to build a facility at the FNC that incorporates local input and adequately addresses the needs of veterans, their families and volunteers. As a result:
"Since the time of its establishment, we have worked to bring enhanced facilities to the Fargo National Cemetery that properly honor our veterans and their families, while supporting the efforts of volunteers. Now, we have a solid community plan in place and the buy-in of the essential stakeholders, and we're bringing that plan to the VA," said Senator Hoeven. "With the partnership of our working group with the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard and the Impact Foundation, we are positioned to secure VA approval for this project, which will be built and donated by the Honor Guard. But our work isn't done, and we will continue to coordinate efforts to deliver the kind of facility that our veterans have earned."
Under the proffer developed by the working group and the Honor Guard, the approximately $3.7 million Veterans Memorial Center will include the following amenities:
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