Exchange Club names Hometown Hero

The Round Lake Area Exchange Club and sponsor Savory Spice Shop Libertyville are proud to announce the September Hometown Hero is U.S. Army Sgt. Matt Pirrello, originally from Long Island, New York.

He was registered for this honor by another Hometown Hero, Staff Sgt. Jonathan Boldt of Libertyville.

Pirrello has served in the Army for seven years and has been awarded many honors and medals, including three Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, Good Conduct Medals, an Iraqi Campaign Medal and an Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

He served as a Land Combat Electronic Missile Systems Maintainer and currently is a recruiter in the Round Lake Beach Recruiting Office. Pirrello and his wife, Stephanie, along with their son, Nathan, call Lake Villa home.

With the support of this month's sponsor, Savory Spice Shop Libertyville, Pirrello's "Hanging with the Heroes" care package will include a Chili's gift card, a personalized "Hanging with the Heroes" T-shirt donated by ArtRageous of Hainesville and letters from Round Lake School District 116 students.

The Hometown Hero website is managed by Fokoz Creative Group of Grayslake. The Round Lake Area Exchange Club will present a plaque on his behalf Wednesday, Sept. 23, at their meeting in Round Lake.

The Round Lake Area Exchange Club needs help in getting local heroes signed up. Any and all military personnel serving overseas or in the United States from any of the Round Lake Areas, Hainesville, Fox Lake, Ingleside or surrounding areas qualify for the program.

Register your loved ones by going to www.rlaexchange.org/hero; it only takes a few minutes. For information, visit the website or contact the program chair, Sherry Ridge, at (847) 740-2379.