While listening to the news about the heroic acts by some of the staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School, it occurred to me that a method is needed to honor common people who risk and/or loose their lives attempting to protect others. The staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School were not in jobs where they expected to be put in harms way, yet, when the unthinkable occurred, they acted with great valor and selflessness, and paid the ultimate price. This Honor should be something greater than the Presidential Medal of Freedom, more like the Medal of Honor is for the military.
The proposed Civilian Medal for Valor would fill this need.