Part of North Confederate Avenue, the Eternal Light Peace Memorial is something of the crowning structure of the northern side of the Gettysburg National Military Park, being bested perhaps only by the memorial marking the estimated location of the Gettysburg Address.

Dedicated in 1938 by President Roosevelt, in the company of one Confederate and one Union veteran, the memorial commemorates the end of the Civil War. The structure itself, standing at 47ft, cuts a sharp silhouette against the background of the sparse battlefield: a granite and limestone monolith against the sea of green and memorial stonework.

Even though the memorial provides an impressive experience in isolation from the monuments throughout the park, it is best experienced toward the end of the tour to allow the narrative of the war to build and complete with the monument of peace.

One of the most impressive aspects of the memorial is the flame that burns continuously. Until 1979, the flame was gas-lit, but even with the electric-powered flame, the symbolism remains poignant. Standing at this site, the wind blowing gently in the background, the flame burning endlessly, the memorial completes its function, causing inner emotions to rise to the surface in quiet contemplation.

Of all the sites at the Gettysburg National Military Park, the Eternal Light Peace Memorial is one of the most affecting, and is an unmissable experience.