The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation today announced that Father Joe Carroll will receive a Citizen Service Before Self Honor. Father Joe is among only four other Americans to be selected for their selflessness and indomitable courage after a nationwide search and selection process.
The recipients were selected because their actions epitomize the concept of “service before self” and have been performed “above and beyond” their professional area of responsibility or conduct.
For more than three decades, Father Joe Carroll selflessly and tirelessly served the San Diego community and beyond. In that time, he was the voice of, and advocate for, the homeless population throughout Southern California. When he first became president of St. Vincent de Paul Center in 1982, it was a small operation with a daily lunch line and thrift store. But Father Joe had a larger vision in mind: an organization that provided all the services a neighbor would need to transition from life on the streets to stable housing and independence.
Today, Father Joe’s Villages is Southern California’s largest homeless services provider. In April of 2011, after nearly 30 years as President and CEO, and on the occasion of his 70th birthday, Father Joe Carroll retired, transitioning to the title of President Emeritus.
"Father Joe’s contributions toward bettering the lives of our neighbors in need are truly immeasurable," said Sister Tricia Cruise, President and CEO of Father Joe's Villages. "This organization is now and will always remain committed to carrying on his great legacy."
Citizen Service Before Self Honors are unique, because they are presented to unsung heroes by our nation’s most honored heroes—the fewer than 80 living Medal of Honor recipients who comprise the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Medal recipients will present the citizen honorees with their awards at this special ceremony on March 25, 2013. At the ceremony, each honoree will receive a Citizen Service Before Self Honors medal and an embossed certificate signed by the President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The ceremony will be held near the shadow of the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, Va.