Fargo Memorial Honor Guard Commander Jason Hicks with The Coffee Club’s Ronnie Lee and Janae White May 16:
FARGO, N.D. – Fargo Memorial Honor Guard Commander Jason Hicks says a groundbreaking for a welcome center at the Fargo National Cemetery hasn’t happened yet because the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has not approved the project.
Hicks says it could be done once Sam Brown is confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Under Secretary For Memorial Services for the V.A.
“He [Brown] has probably already been fully briefed on what’s going to happen,” Hicks said. “Senator John Hoeven has been working very hard behind the scenes and he has told us that this is one of his top priorities to get finished.”
North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong signed a bill giving a $3 million line of credit for construction of the building with a chapel, offices, bathrooms, a parking lot and possibly a reflection pond.
That money goes back to the state if it’s not spent within two years.
Hicks says once the plan is finalized, that line of credit will turn into a grant. A bill in the Minnesota Senate to help fund the welcome center has not had a committee hearing.
Hicks says building the welcome center will cost as much as $5 million, and the Honor Guard has received $4.5 million from fundraising and the legislature.
“The unknown is the unknown. Costs are going up because, quite honestly, nothing is getting cheaper,” Hicks explained.
Hicks says a parking lot is very much needed since people park on both sides of County Road 20 during services, which makes it difficult for other vehicles to get through.
