COLUMBIANA — A local veterans organization is seeking candidates to receive special community awards.

The Forty and Eight Society (40&8) is bringing back the Special Community Awards Program following a hiatus, Club Secretary Crystal Siembida-Boggs said.

“The 40&8 really wants to be more involved with the community and for the community to understand what the 40&8 is all about,” she said.

The non-profit veterans club was formed in 1920 by American veterans returning from France. It was originally an arm of the American Legion before branching off to form its own society, also known as La Societe.

“The opportunity to bring these community awards back to the activities that the 40&8 participate in during the 250th birthday year of our country seems poignant,” Siembida-Boggs said. “Our veterans have given so much to our Country and our local community and we plan to present the winners with their award during the week of the America 250 celebration in Columbiana.”

Award categories are Hero of the Year, Law Officer of the Year, the Sergeant Edward F. Younger Award, and City/Town of the Year.

According to La Societe, The Hero of the Year award began in 1991 and is to recognize and pay tribute to a person who, without hesitation or regard for their own safety, did demonstrate an unselfish desire to aid others.

“By recognizing and respecting those who perform a heroic deed, we familiarize our community, state and nation with the programs of The 40&8,” the organization said in a statement announcing the awards.

The candidate for this award must be living and over the age of 18. They need not be a veteran to be eligible.

The Law Officer of the Year award is to recognize and pay tribute to a Law Enforcement Officer who has done an outstanding job of performing his or her duties at the level of their employment, both past and present. Candidates for this award may be obtained by seeking recommendations from the agency chief executive, superintendent, sheriff, chief, or directly by the local 40&8.

At the time of entry, the candidate must be a living, full-time Law Enforcement Officer at the local, county, state, or federal level, or in the military. The candidate need not be a veteran to be eligible for this award, although they must live within the nominating Grande Voiture, which is Columbiana County.

According to the organization, it is not a prerequisite, although a favorable attribute, for any candidate to have accomplished an extraordinary feat to be eligible.

“It is the intent of the Program to recognize the Law Enforcement Officer who has performed their duties in an outstanding and exemplary manner for a number of years, as well as their off-duty contributions to the community, state and nation,” the organization said.

The Sergeant Edward F. Younger Award, also known as the Voyageur of the Year, was adopted by La Societe during 2001 and renamed the Sergeant Edward F. Younger award at the 2025 Promenade Nationale. According to La Societe, the purpose of this award is to recognize and honor Voyageurs who have performed outstanding service to La Societe.

Each Voiture Locale should honor a Voyageur each year at one of their main Promenades or annual banquets.

“Our Voyageurs doing service for La Societe deserve to be recognized. This service can be for something done for a particular program or any of our named programs or for La Societe in general such as attending functions, setting examples and/or creating an atmosphere of camaraderie that will create a desire for one to be or become a Voyageur Militaire,” the organization said.

A candidate for this award may live anywhere, but their membership must be within the nominating Grande Voiture. It is not a requirement to have held an office in La Societe, but must be a living Voyageur in good standing.

The City or Town of the Year award was adopted by La Societe during 2001. The purpose of this award is to recognize and honor a City or Town which has done or is doing something significant for veterans in that City or Town.

The 40&8 hopes that as more cities and towns are recognized it will encourage other cities and towns to do more for their veterans as well.

The City or Town should be within Columbiana County.

To nominate someone for an award send their name, address, phone number and email, along with a typed description of why they should be nominated, to PO Box 204, Columbiana, OH 44408 by May 31.

Any late received applications will be marked for 2027 consideration.

Recipients will be notified for a June recognition to take place during the America 250 celebrations within the City of Columbiana. Area winners will be nominated for State level recognition.