Exchange Club announces October hero

The Round Lake Area Exchange Club announced that its October Hometown Hero is U.S. Army Sgt. Christopher Pirrello from Round Lake Park.

Pirrello, who currently resides in Bloomington, was registered for this honor by his mother, Mary Pirrello of Palatine.

Christopher Pirrello graduated from Grayslake North High School in 2009, is a member of the Masonic Lodge in Grayslake and is attending Heartland Community College. He has served in the Illinois National Guard for the last seven years and has deployed to Kuwait.

He is a patient administration sergeant with the 108th Sustainment Brigade based out of the Chicago Kedzie Armory. He handles records keeping for patient information, as well as ensures line of duty packets are submitted for review.

Some of honors and awards he has received are: Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (2), Global War on Terrorism Medals (Expeditionary and Service), Armed-Forces Reserve Medal (with M device), National Defense Service Medal, Lincoln Medal of Freedom, and Illinois Long and Honorable Service Medal.

With the support of this month's sponsor, Consumers Credit Union, Pirrello's "Hanging with the Heroes" care package will include a gift card, a personalized "Hanging with the Heroes" T-shirt donated by Artrageous of Hainesville and letters from Round Lake Area Unit District 116 students.

The Round Lake Area Exchange Club will present a plaque on his behalf Wednesday, Oct. 28, at its meeting in Round Lake.

The Round Lake Area Exchange Club needs your help in getting local heroes signed up. 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. You can register your loved ones by going to www.rlaexchange.org/hero.

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