Father Joe Receives National Medal of Honor

One of San Diego's nonprofit leaders will be one of four people honored during the National Medal of Honor Day in Washington D.C. today.

Father Joe Carroll, who developed and ran a multi-faceted homeless support center Father Joe’s Village, was chosen out of 23 finalists to receive the prestigious award.

The 72-year-old was nominated in the "Citizen Service Before Self Honors" program, that collected hundreds of hero nominations from across the country last year.
 
“I decided in November, ‘No more awards, I’m tired of awards,’ but when the Medal of Honor guys called it was hard to say no to them,” he said.

Father Joe will appear at the Arlington National Cemetery ceremony today, which marks the 150th anniversary of the awards first presentation. During the award ceremony, he will also lay wreaths on tombstones of unknown service members.

Father Joe retired in 2011 after 30 years of service to San Diego.