Famed architect Frank Gehry said he is open to changes to a planned Eisenhower Memorial in Washington DC, to address concerns from the 34th president's family that the design does not emphasize enough his achievements as US president and as one of the greatest World War II generals.

Family members of Dwight D. "Ike" Eisenhower shared their objections Tuesday at a hearing of a US House of Representatives subcommittee, where a letter from Gehry also was introduced as testimony.

Gehry's design would construct a memorial park framed by large metal tapestries depicting Eisenhower's boyhood home in the state of Kansas. Two large carved stones would depict Ike as president and military hero, and a statue of a young Eisenhower would appear to marvel at what his life would become.

The memorial would be built just off the National Mall, near the National Air and Space Museum.

The family objects to the tapestries and to depicting Eisenhower in his youth, saying it puts too much emphasis on his humble roots, rather than his accomplishments as Republican president from 1953 to 1961 and as supreme Allied commander in Europe during World War II.

Gehry said his design does celebrate Eisenhower's accomplishments with heroic images and with his words carved in stone.

Eisenhower was the European Theater commander during World War II and engineered the D-Day invasion of the continent that led to the Allies' victory over Nazi Germany.

"My detractors say that I have missed the point, and that I am trying to diminish the stature of this great man," Gehry wrote. "I assure you that my only intent is to celebrate and honor this world hero and visionary leader."

If the memorial organizers and the family "conclude that the sculpture of young Eisenhower is an inappropriate way to honor him, then I will be open to exploring other options with them," the architect continued.

Gehry noted that he has met with Eisenhower's granddaughters, Susan and Anne Eisenhower, and is exploring other design ideas to respond to their concerns. Options include adding a list of accomplishments, more quotations from Eisenhower or additional images in stone, he said.

Members of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission, which selected Gehry for the project, also responded Tuesday to criticism of the architect's design.

Alfred Geduldig, who was appointed to the memorial commission by President Bill Clinton in 1999, said after the hearing that he does not know if anything can be done to regain the family's support.

Susan Eisenhower said her family's objections remain largely unanswered. She told the House panel that her family has been "inundated" with comments from the public, adding that the memorial should be redesigned.

"Great monuments in our country make simple statements that encapsulate the reason the memorial has been erected in the first place," she told the House panel.

"One of the main flaws of the current proposal is that Eisenhower's contribution to the nation is not the central theme of the design."

The family prefers a smaller, simple memorial, she said.

Organizers hope to break ground next year on the $112 million project, which has received federal funding.

Associated Press