An easy way to honor one of your everyday heroes

medal-of-honorThe heroes I know don’t wear capes, and they can’t fly. Their utility belts hold pocket knives, not grappling hooks.

But the heroes I know often have secret identities. That is, they’re the volunteers who dedicate every free second to Scouting—even when no one is watching. I’ll bet there’s one of these unsung heroes in your unit.

Give that person the credit he or she deserves by nominating him/her for the Citizen Service Before Self Honors, presented by the members of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

Nominations are open for ordinary Americans who become extraordinary through “a single instance of bravery or through a lifetime of service to others.” Sounds right up the BSA’s alley.

Deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, Dec. 28, 2012.

Then, on March 23, 2013, three U.S. 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 men who have received our nation’s highest and most prestigious award for valor: the Medal of Honor. 

Last year’s winners

To give you an idea of the caliber of Americans who receive this honor, read about the 2012 recipients:

  • James McCormick of New Haven, W.Va. has been recognized for selflessly helping hundreds of homeless veterans find jobs and housing through his non-profit, Raising Cane Farms.
  • Montell Mixon of St. Paul, Minn. has been recognized for valiantly rescuing a woman from her burning home on Aug. 16, 2011, after she had been locked in the bathroom by her boyfriend who had set the house on fire.
  • Brandon Wemhoff of Lincoln, Neb. has been recognized for heroically risking his life on May 29, 2011, attempting to foil a robbery to protect the people around him.

Image cropped from Csatari’s “Scoutmaster” painting


About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.