Ingleside sergeant named February hometown hero
The Round Lake Area Exchange Club has named U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Greg Strauch as its February hometown hero.
Strauch is an Ingleside resident and 2007 graduate of Grant Community High School in Fox Lake. He was registered for this honor by his mother, Laurie Burbatt, also of Ingleside.
Strauch, who is a deployment manager stationed at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico, has been in the Air Force for seven years.
During that time, he has earned many awards and medals that are hanging in his mother's home. They include: the Joint Service Achievement Medal, Secretary of Defense Award, Cannon Airman Leadership award, pistol expert award.
He also earned the Air Force Commendation Medal for Outstanding Achievement in 2013 as air transportation journeyman for a combined joint special operations air component-Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
With the support of this month's sponsor, B.E.S.T., Strauch's "Hanging with the Heroes" care package will be filled with snacks and health bars.
"I'm working on getting a Lou Malnati's pizza sent out to him," chairwoman Sherry Ridge said.
Also in the package will be a personalized "Hanging with the Heroes" T-shirt donated by Artrageous of Hainesville, a piece of home and letters from Round Lake Area Unit District 116 students.
Heroes also will receive a specially made rosary for the military from Legion of Mary from St. Joseph's in Round Lake.
The Round Lake Area Exchange Club will present a plaque to his family Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 7:30 a.m. at their annual membership drive meeting at Village of Round Lake Beach Community Room in Round Lake Beach.
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.
If you have a neighbor, family member, friend, employee, employer, etc. serving in the military, register them by visiting www.rlaexchange.org/hero.
For more information, visit the website or contact Ridge at (847) 740-2379.