A HISTORY OF MEMORIAL DAY: UNITY, DISCORD AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS: 191

A History of Memorial Day is a study of how Memorial Day was viewed by many Americans as a vehicle of both national and international unity. However, this study also examines the surprising amount of controversy elicited by the celebration of Memorial Day, finding that a substantial number of Americans value Memorial Day more as a holiday from work and an occasion for recreation and relaxation than as a time to honor the country's fallen heroes.