WASHINGTON – Congressman Larry Kissell and the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation have announced that they are now accepting nominations for the Above & Beyond Citizen Honors, which recognizes and honors those ordinary Americans who become extraordinary through their indomitable courage and selflessness.
Citizen Honors are unique, because they are presented to unsung heroes by our nation’s most honored heroes– the fewer than 100 of the living Medal of Honor recipients.
Above & Beyond Citizen Honors recipients represent the values of courage, sacrifice and selfless service. Congressman Kissell and The Congressional Medal of Honor Society encourages individuals to nominate any Untied 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 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 either completing the nomination form online via the Above & Beyond web site at www.avoveandbeyond365.com, or by submitting the nomination form through the office of one of their Congressional representatives. The nomination period runs through Friday, February 20, 2009.
Congressman Kissell has three district office locations, in addition to his office in Washington:
Concord Office Rockingham Office Fayetteville Office Washington, DC Office
325 McGill Ave, suite 500 230 E. Franklin Street 6257 Raeford Rd, suite 2
Concord, NC 28025 Rockingham, NC 28379 Fayetteville, NC 28304 Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 704-786-1612 Phone: 910-997-2070 Phone: 910-920-2070 Phone: 202-225-3715
Citizens are encouraged to fax, mail, or hand-deliver a nomination to any one of these four offices.
A panel of judges, to include Medal of Honor recipients representation, 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 will be announced on Monday, March 9, 2009, and honored at a ceremony on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 2pm EDT, 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. The Tomb of the Unknowns represents the epitome of courage, sacrifice, and selflessness in service to our nation. The remains interred there, known but to God, have been bestowed with the Medal of Honor.
Profiles for each of the 51 finalists will be available on the Above & Beyond website and each finalist will receive an embossed Citizen Honors certificate signed by the President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
About the Medal of Honor
Created by Abraham Lincoln in 1861, the Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force, which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the United Sates Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. To receive this rare honor, it must first be approved by the President of the United States and is then presented by the President in the name of the Congress on behalf of a grateful nation. Since the birth of our nation, over 40 million Americans have faced combat, yet fewer than 3,500 have received our nation’s highest honor for valor in combat — the Medal of Honor.
About the Congressional Medal Of Honor Society
The Congressional Medal Of Honor Society is chartered by Congress, and regarded as the most exclusive organization in our country, as 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 58 to 99, and live in all areas of our Country. No amount of money, power or influence can buy one’s rite of passage to this exclusive circle, and unlike almost any other organization, this group’s members hope that there will be no more inductees. For more information, visit www.cmohs.org
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 initiates such as Above & Beyond, that promote awareness of what the Medal of Honor represents. For more information, visit www.cmohfoundation.org.
