Round Lake Beach soldier is February Hometown Hero

U.S. Army Sgt. David Pittenger, a Round Lake Beach resident and 2004 graduate of Round Lake High School, is the Round Lake Area Exchange Club’s February Hometown Hero.

The award was announced by the Exchange Club and sponsor B.E.S.T. Pittenger was registered for the honor by his mother, Suzanne Bradley, who is also from Round Lake Beach.

Pittenger has served in the U.S. Army for more than six years and is currently serving a one-year tour in South Korea. His U.S. base is Fort Rucker in Alabama, where his 2-year old daughter, November, waits his return.

Some of the medals and awards Pittenger has earned are: Army Commendation Medal (2), Army Achievement Medal (2), Good Conduct Medal (2), Iraqi Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service ribbon and Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

Hometown Hero Project Chairman Sherry Ridge will be filling his “Hanging with the Heroes” care package with beef jerky, candy, cheese nips, ramen noodle, Chapstick and a piece of home.

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

“It is really cold where he is at, they are getting the winter we did not, so Chapstick is in demand,” his mother told Ridge.

Postage for sending the care package is covered from a donation to the Hometown Hero project made by Avon Township.

The club will present a plaque on behalf of the February Hometown Hero to his family at its meeting Feb. 22. The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at Panera Bread in Round Lake.

Any and all military personnel serving overseas or in the USA from any of the Round Lake areas, 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 at www.rlaexchange.org/hero.

For details visit the website or call Ridge at (847) 740-2379.