Every year, in conjunction with the National Medal of Honor Day*, three United States citizens will be awarded Citizen Service Before Self Honors near the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery. They will receive this award from a group of Americans whose actions have defined the word courage – the members of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society who have received our nation’s highest and most prestigious award for valor, the Medal of Honor. The living Medal recipients of this exclusive Society now number fewer than 90.
Process, Criteria, & Timeline
Timeline
Open nominations Monday, November 14, 2011
Close nominations Friday, February 10, 2012
Finalists announcement Monday, February 27, 2012
Recipients announcement Monday, March 12, 2012
Recipients honored Friday, March 23, 2012
Criteria
WHO CAN NOMINATE: Any American who is aware of a fellow citizen, neighbor, co-worker, or ordinary American, a hero among us, who without the expectation of fame or reward, has placed others before self in some extraordinary way.
WHO CAN BE NOMINATED: Any United States civilian who through a singular act of extraordinary heroism or through a prolonged series of acts, clearly demonstrated a willingness to place his or her own life at risk for others. In all cases, the actions being honored 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.
Please note: nominees who are deceased are fully eligible. Nominees must be a U.S. citizen. A singular act of heroism must have occurred within the last three years. A series of acts of long-term selfless service must have been ongoing within the last three years.
HOW TO ENTER: Click on NOMINATION FORM, fill it out, then click SUBMIT.
DEADLINE: Nominations must be received by Friday, February 10, 2012.
Selection Process
A panel, to include Medal of Honor recipient representation, will consider all nominations and select 20 national finalists. From among those finalists, a second panel of Medal of Honor recipients will select three individuals to receive Citizen Service Before Self Honors at a ceremony on Friday, March 23, 2012 to be held at Arlington Cemetery near the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, VA.
National Medal of Honor Day
Date: Friday, March 23, 2012*
*Note: National Medal of Honor Day (March 25) is on a Sunday and will be celebrated on Friday, March 23, 2012.