A 30 minute tour of the memorial. Following that, we talked to Washington Post art and architecture critic to learn about the debates over the design and to hear his thoughts on the architect and the completed work. I am victoria, the deputy executive director of the eisenhower memorial commission. We are here tonight in washington, d. C. , at the northwest corner of the new president ial memorial fridge dwight d. Eisenhower. This story starts about a thousand miles west of washington, d. C. , in abilene, texas kansas. Moved to abilene, kansas, when he was a toddler, and he stayed there through high school. I want to direct your view to inscribed on this wall. Ended,rld war ii eisenhower came home to abilene and was given a heros welcome. In a very humble way, he started talking about not that he was a hero but what he dreamed of doing when he was a young boy. Proudest thing i can claim is that i am from abilene. I come here first and thank you and to say the proudest thing i can claim