Last month, Mainstreet Daily News teamed up with Florida Press Educational Services and Florida Humanities to present Forgotten Front: Florida During the Revolutionary War.

Mainstreet distributed 3,800 copies of a 16-page special section, produced by the Tampa Bay Times, in Alachua County schools, allowing students to delve into this neglected chapter of the American story. We also hosted an event at the Matheson History Museum, where several panelists brought that history to life.

Forgotten Front was just the first part of Mainstreet’s plan to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Today, we are pleased to announce the launch of our Stars, Stripes & Shoutouts promotion—and we need your help to make it happen.

The idea behind Stars, Stripes & Shoutouts is to recognize people who embody the best of our country. It could be a first responder, a teacher, or a military veteran, but it could also be someone who toils in your community without fanfare in a profession or a type of service rarely recognized. We’re looking for the people who make North Central Florida a great place to live, work and play.

If you know someone like that in our coverage area, please nominate them. Just click the button below and fill out the short form asking who you’re nominating and why. It’ll take two minutes if you’re a quick typer.

We will publish a series of these shoutouts in Mainstreet throughout the summer. And one of those recognized will win a $50 gift card to Public and General plus two free admissions to a Hippodrome Cinema showing.

Benjamin Franklin, who was dubbed “the first American,” once said, “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.” The last 250 years have surely proven that maxim true, as U.S. history is chock full of incredible people who led, created, organized and sacrificed in service of others. Let’s celebrate the ones who live among us.