Medal of Honor Society to pay tribute to citizen heroes
With only 75 living recipients of the Medal of Honor, the Medal of Honor Society is perhaps the most exclusive society in the world. Signed into law in 1862, the original intent was "to provide for the presentation of medals of honor to the enlisted men of the Army and volunteer forces who have distinguished or may distinguish themselves in battle during the present rebellion."
Today it is awarded to those who distinguish themselves under enemy fire to an extent that brings credit on the individual and their branch of service.
But despite being honored with the nation’s highest award for valor, Medal of Honor (MoH) recipients annually honor Americans who display extraordinary heroism not on the battlefield, but back home. Each year on National Medal of Honor Day, MoH recipients pay tribute to the citizen-awardees with its Citizen Honors program.
As a press release from the organization notes, “Since 2008, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society has selected U.S. citizens and community organizations for their acts of courage and selfless service which epitomize the American spirit. These extraordinary American citizens will be recognized on National Medal of Honor Day, March 25, by our nation's greatest heroes, the recipients of the Medal of Honor.”
This year’s recipients include:
• Jacob Ellis of Columbia, Mo., and Adam Brunk of Holts Summit, Mo., were selected for their courageous act on Aug. 21, 2016, when they rescued two people injured in a traffic accident. Ellis and Brunk freed the accident victims just before their car was engulfed in fire.
• Molly Hudgens of Ashland City, Tenn., was selected for her courageous act on Sept. 29, 2016, when she prevented a 14-year-old student from shooting teachers and administrators at Sycamore Middle School. Hudgens spoke with the student for 45 minutes until he agreed to surrender. No shots were fired during the incident.
• Travis Ellis of Senoia, Ga., was selected for his selfless service in support of veterans through his work with Shepherd's Men, a nonprofit organization that raises awareness and funds to support post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries among servicemembers. Ellis' efforts support the patients at the SHARE Military Initiative at Shepherd Center, a PTSD and TBI rehab program.
• Katelyn Ibarra of Steamboat Springs, Colo., was selected for her heroism in assisting several citizens injured in a traffic accident. Before emergency medical professionals arrived, Ibarra provided critical first-aid assistance and removed injured passengers from the immediate accident scene. Ibarra was trained in first aid through the Girl Scouts of Colorado.
• Fisher House of Rockville, Md., was selected for its steadfast support of American servicemembers and their families. Fisher House is best known for its extensive network of comfort homes where military and veterans' families can stay at no cost while a loved one receives critical medical treatment. Fisher Houses are located on 24 military installations and at 29 VA medical centers around the world. Since its inception in 1990, Fisher House has supported more than 307,000 families.
"The winners and finalists demonstrate the capacity of individuals and organizations to improve American communities significantly. These awards encourage all Americans to consider how they can serve and help build stronger communities," said Thomas G. Kelley, Medal of Honor recipient and president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.