Round Lake Beach man selected as Round Lake Area Exchange Club's October Hometown Hero

The Round Lake Area Exchange Club has announced that U.S. Army PFC Alexander Murayama, a 21-year resident of Round Lake Beach, is the group's October Hometown Hero.

Murayama was registered for this honor by his mother, Becky, also of Round Lake Beach. The Murayama family is no stranger to the Hometown Hero program. Son Danny received the honor in November, 2013.

Alexander Murayama is a 2010 graduate from Grayslake North High School and a parishioner of The Chapel in Grayslake. He entered the Army after attending a few semesters at the College of Lake County. He is a combat engineer and, according to his parents, "He is currently deployed to Afghanistan, where he and his comrades are working to defuse IEDs."

With the support of this month's sponsor, Consumers Credit Union, Murayama's "Hanging with the Heroes" care package will be filled with peanut butter snacks, candy, and granola bars. Also included is a personalized "Hanging with the Heroes" T-shirt donated by Artrageous of Hainesville, letters from Round Lake Area Unit District 116 students, a specially made rosary for the military from Legion of Mary from St. Joseph's in Round Lake and a piece of home.

The Round Lake Area Exchange Club will present a plaque to his family Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 7:30 a.m. at Panera Bread in Round Lake Beach.

The Round Lake Area Exchange Club needs the community's help in getting more of our troops signed up for this honor. If you have a neighbor, family member, friend, employee, employer, etc. serving in the military, register them by going to www.rlaexchange.org/hero.

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

For details, visit the website or contact Sherry Ridge at (847) 740-2379.