From press release

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sen. Roland W. Burris (D-Ill.) and The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation announced they are accepting nominations for the Citizen Service Above Self Honors, which recognizes and honors those ordinary Americans who become extraordinary through their indomitable courage and selflessness.

Citizen Service Above Self Honors are unique because they are presented to unsung heroes by our nation’s most honored heroes—fewer than 100 living Medal of Honor recipients who comprise the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

Citizen Service Above Self Honors recipients represent the values of courage, sacrifice and selfless service. Burris and the exclusive society of recipients encourages individuals to nominate any United 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 before self,” and must be performed “above and beyond” one’s professional or vocational area of responsibility or conduct.

“The Citizen Service Above Self Honors is a wonderful opportunity to honor everyday Americans for their noble service and dedication to others,” said Burris. “I look forward to learning about the finalists from my home state of Illinois, and hearing their inspiring stories.”

Citizens may submit an eligible nominee by completing the nomination form online via the Citizen Service Above Self Honors Web site at www.CitizenServiceAboveSelfHonors.org ^[1]. The nomination period runs through Friday, Feb. 12, 2010.

A panel, to include Medal of Honor recipient representation, will consider all nominations and select national finalists. From among those finalists, a second panel of Medal of Honor recipients will select three individuals to receive Citizen Service Above Self Honors at a ceremony Thursday, March 25, 2010, in conjunction with National Medal of Honor Day. The ceremony will be in the shadow of the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery.

Profiles for each of the finalists will be available on the Citizen Service Above Self Honors Web site and each finalist will receive an embossed certificate signed by the President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

Citizen Service Above Self 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.