The everyday New Yorker whose good deeds and gallantry have made our city the best in the world are the very heart and soul of the Big Apple - and The Post with proud supporter John Catsimatidis, Chairman and CEO of Gristedes, a Red Apple Group Company, invite readers to help us find our hometown heroes and salute them for their bravery, kindness and dedication over the past year.
Each of this year's Liberty Medal winners will receive a symbol of the city's heartfelt gratitude - a silver medal, engraved with Lady Liberty's torch, which was created for The Post by renowned New York graphic artist Milton Glaser, who devised the iconic "I ♥ NY" logo.
A prominent panel of New Yorkers will select this year's winners, who will be honored at a reception ceremony October 17, 2007.
Please tell us in 100 words or less, why the nominee deserves to win a Liberty Medals award. You may nominate your unsung hero for their contributions to the city in the following 10 different categories.
Send in as many nominations as you like - the city has lots of heroes. The nominee must be living and their acts of compassion, courage, ingenuity and integrity must have occurred between July 2006 and August 20, 2007. Subject to Complete Official Rules.
In the coming months we'll introduce you to some of the candidates who merited attention by their words and give you a snapshot look at their accomplishments.
LIBERTY MEDAL CATEGORIES
Leadership Medal
For compassionate, disciplined leadership in service of the common good during the past year.
Courage Medal
For a notable act of bravery by a civilian that contributed to saving human life.
Young Heart Medal
For the youth under 17 who most impressively displayed adult resolve; not for a physical feat, but for behavior that displays moral character or mature judgment during the past year.
Freedom Medal
For a New Yorker from a foreign land who best embodies the immigrant values of honesty, industriousness and hard-earned success.
Community Medal
For the person whose activities during the past year most improved the quality of life in a borough or neighborhood, or bettered conditions at a particular public place.
Ambassador Medal
For the man or woman who revealed the finest qualities of New York to the world during the past year.
New York's Bravest Medal
For the firefighter or EMS technician whose performance in the line of duty best exemplifies the department's unflinching heroism; to be selected in consultation with the FDNY.
New York's Finest Medal
For the police officer whose on-the-job performance reflects the department's honor and selflessness; to be selected in consultation with the NYPD and the Port Authority Police Department.
Educator Medal
For an administrator or teacher who excels at preparing the next generation of New Yorkers for their future challenges.
Lifetime Achievement Medal
For the individual whose accomplishments reflect the very best of our city.
