Honors and recognition
Admirers around the world bestowed many forms of recognition on Peace Pilgrim during her life. But she was not interested in awards and honors. Her purpose was her pilgrimage; her mission was peace. Nonetheless, her legacy is reflected in tributes like the following.
Nobel Peace Prize recommendation
In the spring of 1981, Peace Pilgrim was recommended to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by a group of church leaders from Memphis, TN. However, just months later, she had her "glorious transition" as the result of a head-on collision while she was being driven to a talk in Knox, IN. Since the Prize cannot be awarded posthumously, she could no longer be considered.
Swarthmore College Peace Pilgrim Collection
Early in her pilgrimage, Peace Pilgrim arranged for her writings, media coverage and other materials to be saved as part of the extensive Swarthmore College Peace Collection in Swarthmore, PA.
Legal Mediation Project
Peace Pilgrim's message and influence led lawyers who wished to find an alternative to the combative, adversarial legal system to start mediation projects such as one in Dallas, TX. In 1987, the local Bar Association sponsored the Dallas Mediation Project, which trained 1,000 attorneys as mediators for settling civil disputes. The project used Peace Pilgrim's "golden rule of resolution" as its primary teaching principle: Have it be your purpose to resolve the dispute rather than to gain an advantage. In their first six months, about 80% of the 1,000 cases in Dallas County referred for mediation were settled voluntarily.
Peace Abby Award
In 1992, Peace Pilgrim was honored with the "Courage of Conscience" Award from the Sherborn, Massachusetts-based Peace Abby.
Peace Pilgrim Statue at United Nations University of Peace in Costa Rica
On Nov. 19, 2000, a life-size bronze statue of Peace Pilgrim created by sculptor Fernando Calvo was dedicated at the United Nations University of Peace in Colon, Costa Rica. It stands near that of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and other world peacemakers. The statue was spearheaded by Robert Muller, UN former assistant secretary general and chancellor emeritus of the University. Former Costa Rica President Rodrigo Carazo gave the keynote address at the dedication ceremony.
Peace Pilgrim Park in Egg Harbor City, NJ
In 2005, Peace Pilgrim Park was created in her hometown of Egg Harbor City, NJ, on the site of the former well-known Neutral Water Health Resort Sanitarium. Since 2007, the Friends of Peace Pilgrim have held an annual Peace Pilgrim Celebration at the park. (The quilt in the top photo was made from Celebration t-shirts. You can learn more about the latest celebration on our FOPP events page.
New Jersey Hall of Fame
Peace Pilgrim was inducted into the 2016 Class of the New Jersey Hall of Fame, the highest civilian honor in the state. Her sister, Helene Young, then age 102, received a standing ovation when she accepted the award along with Friends of Peace Pilgrim trustee Cheryl Canfield. See our Newsletter # 63 for details and photos; click here for a video of the May 2017 induction ceremony.
Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame
In 2017, Peace Pilgrim was selected for the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame, recognized as the first woman to hike the entire AT in one season. She was represented by Friends of Peace Pilgrim trustee Bruce Nichols, who chronicled her achievement in Peace Pilgrim's 1952 Appalachian Trail Journey.
NWHA Champion of Peace and Nonviolence
Cherry blossoms were in full bloom in Washington, DC as Peace Pilgrim was among 12 extraordinary people honored as “Visionary Women: Champions of Peace and Nonviolence” by the National Women’s History Alliance on March 30, 2019. See photos and more in our April 3, 2019 blog.
