Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced today that the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation is now accepting nominations for the Citizen Service Above Self Honors, which recognize and honor extraordinary Americans who have acted with courage and selflessness. Citizen Honors are exceptional because they are presented to unsung heroes by our nation’s most honored heroes – the fewer than 100 living Medal of Honor Recipients.
“As I’ve visited communities across Oregon, I have had the privilege to meet outstanding individuals who have put service before self and gone the extra mile to care for their fellow Americans,” Merkley said. “I encourage Oregonians to nominate someone in their lives who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to their community and country.”
Citizen Service Above Self Honor recipients represent the values of courage, sacrifice and selfless service. Senator Merkley and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society encourage individuals to nominate any United States civilian who has clearly demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice for others, whether it has been 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 above self” and must be performed “above and beyond” one’s professional or vocational area of responsibility or conduct.
Citizens may submit an eligible nominee by completing the nomination form online via the Citizen Service Above Self web site at www.citizenserviceaboveselfhonors.org. The deadline for nominations is Friday, February 12, 2010.
A panel of judges, to include Medal of Honor recipients, will consider all nominations and select a finalist from every state, plus the District of Columbia. From among the state finalists, three individuals will be selected to receive Citizen Honors and recognized at a ceremony on Wednesday, March 25, 2010 in conjunction with National Medal of Honor Day. The ceremony will be held in the shadow of the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
About the Congressional Medal of Honor Society
The Congressional Medal of Honor is chartered by Congress. Its membership is solely made up of living Medal of Honor recipients. Today there are less than 100 members, who come from all social classes, race and economic levels. They range in age from 59 to 100 and live in all areas of the country.
About the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation
The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to perpetuate the Medal of Honor’s legacy of courage, sacrifice and patriotism. The Foundation supports the objectives, activities and programs of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, and raises funds for initiatives such as Citizen Honors, that promote awareness of what the Medal of Honor represents.
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