Nominations Now Open for Top U.S. Citizen Heroes of 2012

America's Medal of Honor Recipients Seek Unsung Civilian Heroes

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation today begins its annual nationwide search for unsung citizen heroes. The organization, representing the nation's greatest military heroes over the last 150 years, is now accepting nominations for the Citizen Service Before Self Honors, which recognizes ordinary Americans who have done extraordinary deeds-saving lives in a single heroic act, or providing on-going service to their fellow citizens through a series of selfless acts.

Online nominations open today at www.citizenservicebeforeselfhonors.org, and will remain open until December 28, 2012. A nationwide campaign will also reach out to lawmakers, public officials, non-profit organizations, and first-responders to encourage nominations. From the online nominations, three unsung citizen heroes will be chosen to receive the prestigious Citizen Service Before Self Honors to be given by Medal of Honor recipients at a special ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery marking Medal of Honor Day on March 25, 2013.

Citizen Service Before Self Honors are unique, because they are presented to unsung heroes by our nation's most honored heroes—the fewer than 85 living recipients of our nation's highest award for valor—the Medal of Honor.  The recipients comprise the Congressionally chartered Medal of Honor Society, which is one of the nation's most exclusive societies.

Citizen Service Before Self Honors recipients represent the values of courage, sacrifice and selfless service.  Medal of Honor recipients encourage individuals to nominate any United States civilian who has clearly demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice for others, whether through a single act of extraordinary heroism at risk to one's life, or through a prolonged series of selfless acts.  The nominee's actions must epitomize the concept of "service before self" and must be performed "above and beyond" one's professional area of responsibility or conduct.

Citizens may submit an eligible nominee by completing the nomination form online via the Citizen Service Before Self Honors website, www.CitizenServiceBeforeSelfHonors.org.  The nomination period runs from Tuesday, September 4, 2012, through Friday, December 28, 2012. 

BACKGROUND

CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR HISTORY
This year marks the 150th Anniversary that the first Medals of Honor were awarded. President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation establishing the Medal of Honor in 1861.  The Medal is our nation's highest award for military valor, and its monumental anniversary represents 150 years of courage and sacrifice on the part of the millions of men and women who have defended our freedoms in uniform.

CITIZEN HONORS SELECTION PROCESS
A panel, to include Medal of Honor recipient representation, will consider all nominations and select 20 national finalists. Finalists will be announced on Monday, February 25, 2013.  From among those finalists, a second panel of Medal of Honor recipients will select three individuals to receive Citizen Service Before Self Honors.  The recipients will be announced on Monday, March 11, 2013, and honored at a ceremony on Monday, March 25, 2013, in conjunction with Medal of Honor Day.  The ceremony will be held near the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery.

Profiles for each of the finalists will be available on the Citizen Service Before Self Honors website, and each finalist will receive an embossed framed certificate signed by the President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. 

THE SOCIETY
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society was chartered by Congress in 1958 to create a brotherhood among the living recipients, to protect and uphold the dignity of the Medal, to promote patriotism and love of country and to inspire  our youth to become worthy, dedicated citizens of our country. It consists exclusively of the living Medal of Honor recipients. Today, there are fewer than 85 members, who come from all social classes, races, ethnic and economic backgrounds. They range in age from  24 to 95 and live in all areas of our country. For more information, visit www.cmohs.org.

THE FOUNDATION
The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society  to perpetuate the Medal of Honor's legacy of courage, sacrifice, selfless service and patriotism.  The Foundation supports the objectives, activities and outreach programs of the Society, and raises funds for initiatives such as Citizen Service Before Self Honors, that promote awareness of what the Medal of Honor represents.  For more information, visit www.cmohfoundation.org.

SOURCE The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation