Former Sen. Bob Dole, who turns 92 on Wednesday, said his primary birthday wish is to be around to see the Eisenhower Memorial completed in Washington.

The memorial, authorized by Congress in 1999, has been approved by the two designated federal agencies, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission. Congress, however, has failed to appropriate construction funding for the Memorial, largely due to family members’ objections to the design.

Dole, a member of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission’s Advisory Committee, said, “I hope some of us World War II veterans will still be around to attend the dedication of the Memorial to our hero, Ike.”

At 92, Dole, a Russell native, still comes to work every day at the law firm of Alston & Bird LLP. In addition to his client work and pro bono efforts on behalf of the Eisenhower Memorial, the former senator and presidential candidate lends his voice to causes involving veterans, the disabled and animal welfare.

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