New York State Senator Kemp Hannon is calling for nominations for the Liberty Award, an initiative to honor those volunteers who assisted in the Sept. 11 rescue and recovery efforts. The state's highest civilian award, the Liberty Award, was created last year to honor those individuals who have merited special commendation for exceptional, heroic or humanitarian acts and achievements on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers and their community.

"While we have seen tremendous loss and grief in the aftermath of this heinous attack on our country, we have also witnessed an outpouring of sacrifice and support from citizens, professionals and volunteer rescue workers," Hannon said. "I call for nominations for the Liberty Award because we must honor those many people whose acts of service and volunteerism brought a ray of light to a dark time."

Nomination forms will be available by calling Hannon's office at 222-0068 or by e-mailing hannonslibertynominations@hotmail.com. Nominees should be individuals who volunteered during the rescue and recovery efforts or who created a fund-raising or other program to assist in recovery or relief efforts. The forms must be completed and returned by Dec. 31. Those who are selected as Liberty Award recipients will be notified before February 28, 2002.

"We should recognize those heroes in our midst, our hometown heroes, who individually made a difference in the lives of many," Hannon said. "They are an example to us all."