SAM DEAN The Roanoke Times

Officials say the D-Day Memorial may be on the brink of closing.

Virginia's congressional delegation is backing a more immediate step that could transfer control of the financially troubled National D-Day Memorial to the U.S. National Park Service.

Riki Parikh, a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Mark Warner said the state's senators and representatives signed a letter requesting a presidential proclamation to designate the memorial as a national monument -- a move that would relinquish it to the federal government. The letter was sent to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar this week.

Thursday's letter offers the alternate solution in light of "increasingly difficult economic prospects in the future."

Last month, Warner and U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Albemarle County, introduced legislation to the House and Senate authorizing the secretary of the interior to study whether the memorial meets certain criteria for becoming a national park.

That came on the heels of National D-Day Foundation President William McIntosh saying the memorial was running out of cash and on the brink of closing. An infusion of cash or a change of ownership was vital to the memorial's survival, he said.

The foundation operates on a $2.2 million annual budget. About $600,000 -- or about 27 percent -- is generated by the guests who visit the memorial through ticket sales, tours and gift shop proceeds. The rest comes from contributions.

The National D-Day Memorial opened in 2001 to recognize the largest land, air and sea operation in military history. Bedford was chosen because the community suffered the highest per capita loss in the first wave of combat.