About
The Most Prestigious Civilian Award in America
Every day in this country, ordinary Americans become extraordinary. It can happen in an instance of bravery, or through a lifetime of placing others before themselves. These acts of courage and self-sacrifice would inspire us all, if only we knew about them. Now, the time has come to stand up and celebrate, in our towns and in our cities, the selfless heroism that symbolizes the American spirit. Every year, on National Medal of Honor Day, three United States citizens will be awarded the Citizen Service Before Self Honors. They will receive this award from a group of Americans whose actions have defined the word courage – the fewer than 100 living members of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
To be considered for this rare civilian honor, nominees must have made a difference in the lives of others through a singular act of extraordinary heroism, or through their continued commitment to putting others before themselves. For the American people, this is an opportunity to nominate your fellow citizens—your neighbors, and your coworkers, the heroes all around you. Three remarkable citizens will be chosen to receive the Citizen Service Before Self Honors on March 25, 2010 – National Medal of Honor Day.
The site selected for this historic ceremony is the ultimate symbol of anonymous heroism – the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. All of the anonymous soldiers who have found eternal rest in the Tomb, have been presented with our nation’s highest award for valor in combat, The Medal of Honor. On the east side of the Tomb is a sculpture of three Greek citizens, each representing the virtues of Peace, Victory and Valor. To show the link between anonymous heroism in and out of uniform, the Society has placed these figures on the Citizen Service Before Self Honors medals themselves.
Citizen Service Before Honors was previously known as Above & Beyond Citizen Honors. Despite the slight name change to better reflect the award’s intentions, the prestige, selection criteria and process, and support by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society have not altered.
