Lithuanians in Arizona:

Anne S. Krizanauskas

Anne Suzanne Krizanauskas was born to Lithuanian parents on Aug. 11, 1913, in Shenandoah, PA, Anne was the first in her area in Pennsylvania to volunteer for the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps once the President signed its authorization. She served in the WAAC until it was disbanded and replaced by the Women's Army Corps, which she again was among the first to join. In June 1948, Anne was selected for integration into the regular Air Force and was among the first to receive a regular commission. She served in Germany, France, North Africa, receiving many awards. Anne retired with a rank of major in 1967, but she continued to serve many veterans' associations, including a term as Commander, Apache Trail Chapter of the Military Order of World Wars. Anne is still active in the WAC Veterans Association, The Retired Officers Association, and the Tempe Sister City Corporation. She was also an original sponsor of a Vietnamese Boat People family in Tempe in 1979. Anne was proud of her Lithuanian heritage and was an active member of the Lithuanian-American Community of Arizona.

Anne died in Tucson on March 15, 2008 and was buried in Our Lady of Lourdes cemetery in Shenandoah, PA.

Induction Into The Arizona Veterans Hall Of Fame

Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame was established by Unified Arizona Veterans on behalf of the Office of the Governor and the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services to honor Arizona veterans for their military service and their accomplishments throughout their lifetime. The inaugural induction ceremony, held on May 30, 2001, recognized 26 Medal of Honor recipients with Arizona ties, and 24 other distinguished Arizona veterans. Among the inductees to the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame were a former Arizona House Majority Leader Burton S. Barr, former Arizona's U.S. Senator Barry M. Goldwater, former U.S. Senator, Governor, and Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court William McFarland, former US House of Representatives Minority Leader John J. Rhodes, and our Anne Krizanauskas. We in the Lithuanian-American Community of Arizona celebrated Anne Krizanauskas and her achievements by cheering her induction and by presenting her with a traditional Lithuanian sash. Present at the ceremonies were Kestutis and Siga Eidukonis, Antonija Petrulis, Vytautas and Rima Reklaitis, Nora Burba Trulsson, and Rimantas and Aldona Vaitkus.