Although Col. Ralph Hauenstein’s Aug. 9 column “Honoring Ike — a veteran’s perspective,” may have expressed his personal design preference for the Eisenhower Memorial — based on his time with, and opinion of, Gen. Dwight David Eisenhower — I believe he missed the very essence of the Eisenhower Memorial.

Established by legislation in 1999, the Eisenhower Memorial Commission has been entrusted with the task of building an enduring memorial honoring President Eisenhower and his amazing array of accomplishments.

The commission itself is a bipartisan group of 12 Americans. Four are distinguished citizens in private life and eight were elected to the Senate and House of Representatives. Our co-chairman is Sen. Daniel Inouye, president pro tempore of the Senate and a World War II Medal of Honor recipient from the Italian Campaign.

Col. Hauenstein misses the point that the Eisenhower Memorial Commission has been hard at work since 1999 and that, for more than a decade, the commission benefited greatly from the advice and counsel of family members who attended 13 of our 16 meetings along with Eisenhower’s grandson and historian, David Eisenhower, who served as a commissioner for more than a decade, departing eight months ago.

Stars and Stripes readers — brave men and women who defend our nation and the very freedoms we enjoy — should not be exposed to just one side of the story. They should know that the Eisenhower Memorial provides a unique opportunity for our great nation to present itself, and one of its greatest leaders of the 20th century, to the world, and to again tell the story of a great American who distinguished himself in both war and peace.

Brig. Gen. Carl W. Reddel (retired)

Executive director

Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission

Washington

Migrated