04.04.24

Hoeven Brings Together USMA Quinn, Local Stakeholders & Veterans Groups to Coordinate Efforts to Build Veterans Cemetery Center at FNC

FARGO, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today held a roundtable with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs (USMA) Matthew Quinn, Senator Kevin Cramer, city officials, veterans service organizations and leaders and other local stakeholders to advance plans for a future facility at the Fargo National Cemetery (FNC). This builds upon a meeting Hoeven held with local stakeholders in February to discuss opportunities for enhancements at the cemetery, as well as his longtime efforts with USMA Quinn and local landowners to establish and expand the cemetery. Earlier this year, Hoeven announced the purchase of land to expand FNC’s footprint from 5 to 35 acres.

Hoeven now continues working to coordinate efforts among local stakeholders and the VA to develop a plan to build a facility that:

  • Incorporates input from local stakeholders.
    • Following the meeting he convened in February, Hoeven brought local feedback to USMA Quinn and secured agreement to allow a local non-profit to build the facility, subject to VA approval, which will save time and cost.
    • The VA would then assume the ongoing costs of owning, operating, staffing and maintaining the facility.
    • This comes in addition to the millions of dollars the VA has spent establishing, expanding and developing infrastructure for the FNC.
  • Properly accommodates North Dakota’s veterans, their families and volunteers.
    • This means a center that includes a chapel, gathering space, kitchen and breakroom, locker room, restrooms, office space and storage.

At the same time, Hoeven is working to address a request of the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard to name the future facility after a North Dakotan and Medal of Honor recipient, Army Captain Loren D. Hagen. Current statute restricts the VA to naming its facilities to geographical locations, and to date, no VA cemetery facilities have been named after an individual. It would take legislation passing both chambers of Congress to overcome this restriction. Should the Honor Guard secure the agreement of North Dakota veterans service organizations (VSOs) to move forward on that process, Hoeven is willing to introduce and try to pass the legislation.

“The Fargo National Cemetery should have the kinds of facilities worthy of the service and sacrifice of our veterans. As a result of the feedback we’ve received, as well as our efforts with USMA Quinn, we’ve come a long way, not only securing enhancements for the cemetery, but an expansion from 5 to 35 acres,” said Hoeven. “When we all work together, we get things done, and that is what we must do moving forward to bring enhanced facilities, including a veterans cemetery center, to Fargo National Cemetery.”

Expanding FNC

In January, Hoeven announced the purchase of land to expand FNC’s footprint from 5 acres to 35 acres, following his efforts to ensure the cemetery has adequate space for the future. Specifically, Hoeven:

  • Began working on this priority after hearing from local veterans groups that the cemetery would run out of room sooner than anticipated.
  • Worked through his role on the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Committee to ensure the timely completion of the required National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review.
  • Repeatedly met with local leaders, landowners and USMA Quinn, to advance negotiations over the land sale.

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