Congressional Medal of Honor Society Announces 2020 Citizen Honors Awards

For Acts of Heroism and Selfless Service

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Congressional Medal of Honor Society

Mar 25, 2020, 10:00 ET

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, today, announced their 2020 Citizen Honors Award Honorees. These six individuals and one organization exemplify the values embodied in the Medal of Honor: courage, sacrifice, commitment, integrity, citizenship, and patriotism.

The awards ceremony for this year's Honorees has been put on hold due to the current national health crisis. However, today is National Medal of Honor Day, and the selfless actions of these individuals need to be recognized. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society continues to encourage, support, and honor the award recipients and will honor them at a later date.

Each year, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society conducts a nationwide search to select individuals in four categories and one organization to receive their Citizen Honors Awards.

The 2020 Congressional Medal of Honor Citizen Honors Honorees are:

Single Act of Heroism Award (two honorees):
Riley Howell of Waynesville, NC, selected for his courageous act when he shielded students from a gunman during an incident at the University of North Carolina - Charlotte. Riley Howell did not survive the attack, but he is attributed with saving the lives of many students.

Keanon Lowe of Portland, OR, selected for his courageous act when he disarmed a student with a loaded shotgun during an incident at Parkrose High School in Portland, Oregon. Mr. Lowe is attributed with saving the lives of the students and faculty of Parkrose High school.

Young Hero Award (two honorees):
Christian Garcia of Santa Fe, TX, selected for his courageous act when he sprang into action when a gunman opened fire on first period art classes at Santa Fe High School. Christian did not survive the attack but is hailed a hero for his actions.

Cody Runyon of Rochester, MN, pulled an eleven-year-old fellow swimmer from the bottom of a pool after the younger boy had sunk and become unresponsive. Cody noticed the danger and reacted quickly, preventing further tragedy. The victim credits Cody and an adult bystander for saving his life.

Service Act:
Michael Jernigan of North Richland Hills, TX, for his lifetime of selfless service to improve the lives of blind and impaired veterans. Michael co-founded "Paws for Patriots" at South Eastern Guide Dogs, which provides guide dogs and service animals to veterans.

Youth Service Award:
Zachary Brooks of Summit, NJ, for his advocacy of those affected by autism. Zachary founded "Artfully Abled," an art event showcasing the abilities of those with developmental disabilities.

Community Service Hero Award:
Women Veteran Social Justice Network in Atlanta, GA, for their work to identify, connect and empower Women Veterans through professional and personal connections.

For more information about the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, visit the Congressional Medal of Honor Society website at http://www.cmohs.org/.

Contact: Kristi Hellmuth, 703 731 1042, [email protected]

SOURCE Congressional Medal of Honor Society