HARWOOD, N.D. — The director of what will be the first national veterans cemetery in North Dakota traveled to the state to visit with veterans and local officials.

The federal Department of Veterans Affairs is planning the cemetery on about 5 acres of land in Cass County. John Knapp will serve as director. He’s also the director of Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minnesota.

North Dakota U.S. Sen. John Hoeven brought Knapp to Harwood on Monday to provide more information to local groups.

The cemetery is to serve more than 24,000 veterans, their spouses and family members within a 75-mile radius of Fargo.

North Dakota has a state veterans cemetery, near Mandan.