Remembering Anne Peregrim


Anne Peregrim was born in Blakely, Pennsylvania on September 24, 1921. She served in the United States Marine Corps for twenty-three and a half years, from 1945 to 1968, retiring as a Master Gunnery Sergeant. 
 
In describing her memorable experiences, Anne said “I had the honor of being among the first eight Women Marine Reserves to be sworn into the regular Marine Corps on November 10, 1948, pursuant to legislation enacted in 1948 to incorporate women in the regular components of the Armed Forces.”
She also noted that, while serving as Recruiting Sergeant in the Manhattan Marine Corps office, she had “…the distinct pleasure and honor of being selected Miss Subway in July 1950.”
She moved to Washington, DC in the 1960s, and after leaving the Marine Corps began civil service employment, which included work at the Pentagon.
 
Anne resided at the Fillmore Garden Apartments in Arlington for over 42 years prior to moving back home, where she was a member of All Saints Orthodox Church in Olyphant, PA.
 
As a member of St. Nicholas Cathedral, she was a soprano in the choir and participated in many parish activities, including being a member of Chapter #79 of the Fellowship of Russian Orthodox Christians (FROC, now FOCA). Petite, elegant and stylish, she had a lovely warm smile that greeted you on Sundays.
 
Her support of fundraisers put on by the youth of the Junior Chapter of the FROC is still remembered with gratefulness by some adult parishioners. She did not wait for the bake sale and buy by the slice - she pre-ordered an entire carrot cake with cream cheese icing each year, making a young baker feel very special!
 
Anne died at home on October 11, 2007, and was buried with Full Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
 
May Anne’s memory be eternal!