Grayslake man is the January Hometown Hero

The Round Lake Area Exchange Club has announced the January Hometown Hero is U.S. Navy Command Master Chief Michael Magnetta.

Magnetta is a resident of Grayslake and was registered for this honor by close friend Joyce Campbell. The January award sponsor is Ben Martindale, the former CEO at Round Lake Area Unit District 116 and former superintendent at Gurnee Elementary District 56.

When he is home, Magnetta works with the Grayslake Exchange Club on community projects. He is the father of two children — Steven who also is serving in the Navy, and a daughter, Lauren. Magnetta also has one granddaughter.

Magnetta has earned many medals and awards in his 24 years of military service. Some of those are Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Marine Corp Achievement Medal (5) for heroism, National Defense Service Award, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, GWOT Expeditionary Medal and Armed Forces Service Medal.

As command master chief of the USS McCampbell, he is the highest ranking enlisted man on the ship. He is currently serving in Japan.

“Joyce shared that he really misses Dunkin’ Donuts coffee,” said Hometown Hero Project Chair Sherry Ridge. “With the help of Dr. Ben Martindale, Magnetta’s Hanging with the Heroes care package will be filled with Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, pictures of Exchangites, snacks, treats and of course a piece of home.”

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

Also, starting this month, the cost of mailing the care packages is paid with a donation made by Avon Township.

The Exchange Club will present a plaque on behalf of the January Hometown Hero to his family at their meeting on Jan. 25. The meeting is at Panera Bread in Round Lake Beach, 7:30 a.m. and is open to the public.

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 going to www.rlaexchange.org/hero — five minutes is all it takes.

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