Since 1938, the Eternal Light Peace Memorial has crowned Oak Hill, on the north end of the Gettysburg battlefield. Dedicated by President Franklin Roosevelt, this monument praises the “Reunionist” memory of the Civil War, and planners utilized the celebration to unite the country in the face of an impending war in Europe. This talk explores the struggles undertaken to erect this monument, as well as the way it has been invoked in conflicts and arguments over the last 85 years.
