Lake Villa soldier named ‘Hometown Hero’ for July

The Round Lake Area Exchange Club has announced its July Hometown Hero is U.S. Army Sgt. Andrew Rose of Lake Villa.

Rose was registered for this honor by Sgt. First Class Julius Frazier of Round Lake Beach. The July award sponsor is Robert Frank of Robert E. Frank Real Estate, Inc.

Rose is serving as a recruiter with the Round Lake Beach Recruiting Station. He was recently stationed at Fort Campbell, Ken., home of the only air assault division in the world, the 101st Airborne.

Rose is the recipient of many honors and medals, including a Purple Heart, two Arcoms, two Oversees ribbons, Expert Infantry badge, Combat Infantry badge, Air Assault badge, Airborne badge, NCO Schools medal and more.

“Sgt. Rose’s Hanging with the Heroes care package will be a little different than ones we have to mail out. We will make sure that he receives a gift card to a favorite local establishment,” Hometown Hero Project Chairman Sherry Ridge said.

All “Hanging with the Heroes” care packages are delivered with a personalized “Hanging with the Heroes” T-shirt (donated by Artrageous of Hainesville), a piece of home and letters from Round Lake Area Unit District 116 students.

The Round Lake Area Exchange Club will present a plaque and the package to Rose and his fellow soldiers Wednesday, July 25, at 7:30 a.m. at Panera Bread in Round Lake Beach.

Any and all military personnel serving overseas or in the USA from any of the Round Lake area communities, Hainesville, Fox Lake or Ingleside, qualify for the program.

If you have a neighbor, family member, friend, employee, employer, etc. serving in the military, register them by visiting www.rlaexchange.org/hero.

For more information, visit the website or call Ridge at (847) 740-2379.