Kanya resident of Round Lake Beach and a 2009 Antioch High School graduate, was registered at the Clubs site, www.rlaexchange.org/hero, by his father, Craig Kanya of Antioch. Kanya is currently stationed at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, also known as 29 Palms. It is located in California and is the United States Marine Corps’ largest base. He has been in the Marines for over two years and served a tour of duty on the U.S. Essex aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean. His honors include Marine sharp shooter and squadron leader.

According to Hometown Hero Project Chair, Sherry Ridge, Kanya’s “Hanging with the Heroes” care package will be filled with Pretzel M&M’s, jolly ranchers, sweets, a personalized “Hanging with the Heroes” t-shirt, a piece of home and letters from Round Lake Area School District 116 students. His family is very proud of him and his mother, Michelle, shared that he will be deploying to Afghanistan in March and said, “Not something I am looking forward to, but I know that he has chosen to make Americans safety a priority in his life.”

The Club will present a plaque on behalf of the September Hometown Hero to his family at their meeting on September 14 . The meeting is held at Panera Bread in Round Lake Beach, 7:30 a.m.

Marrufo is a 2003 Round Lake High School graduate, she was registered at the Clubs site, www.rlaexchange.org/hero, by her sister Raquel Guevara of Round Lake Beach. Marrufo currently serves as a Marine recruiter in San Diego. She was deployed for 6 months in Iraq in 2007. In additions to many certificates of appreciation she has received the Combat Action Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and many other awards.

She is a big fan of Round Lake Beach’s Orlando’s Pizza. According to Hometown Hero Project Chair, Sherr Ridge, the Staff Sergeant’s “Hanging with the Heroes” care package will be filled with chocolate and many sweets, a personalized “Hanging with the Heroes” t-shirt and letters from Round Lake Area School District 116 students. “We’d love to send her a pizza from Orlando’s but not sure how we could do that,” said Ridge.

The Club will present a plaque on behalf of the July Hometown Hero to her family at their meeting on July 13. The meeting is held at Panera Bread in Round Lake Beach, 7:30 a.m.

Melchert was registered on our site by his dear friend, Kathy Pederson of Fox Lake. The June hero, a 25 year Ingleside resident, just returned home from leading his team in Afghanistan. He has served over 30 years in the Air Force and has earned several honors and awards including Serviceman of The Year.

“We are still working on when we will present Frank and his family his plaque, as his wife surprised him with week long cruise for some alone time after spending a few days with friends and family, he has been in Afghanistan for six months.” shared Sherry Ridge, the Hometown Hero Project Chair.

Melchert’s “Hanging with the Heroes” care package will be filled with licorice, treats, a personalized “Hanging with the Heroes” t-shirt and letters from Round Lake Area School District 116 students.

The Club will announce the presentation of a plaque on behalf of the June Hometown Hero to his family upon their return.

Macias was registered at the Clubs site, www.rlaexchange.org/hero, by his very proud mother, Victoria L. Macias. The May hero, a Round Lake Park resident, graduated in 2010 from Round Lake Senior High School.

“Alejandro is our ninth hero being honored and we along with his family are in awe of his service to country and joining during the time of war.” shared Sherry Ridge, the Hometown Hero Project Chair. Macias is currently in Jacksonville, NC. He just graduated from V-22 Airframes Mechanics School. “I always get chills and tears of pride when I speak with the family members of our heroes” said Ridge. His mother also shared that he earned an expert rifleman award.

The Lance Corporal’s “Hanging with the Heroes” care package will be filled with chips, fruit, lots of chocolate along with a personalized “Hanging with the Heroes” t-shirt and letters from Round Lake Area School District 116 students. A requested item of a “Black Chicago skyline baseball cap” has been made, Ridge is working on finding this cap.

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

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. Five minutes will get them registered. If you have a neighbor, family member, friend, employee, employer, etc. serving in the military please register them by going to www.rlaexchange.org/hero. We look forward to announcing the June Hometown Hero. For more information visit the web site or you can contact Sherry Ridge at 847-740-2379.

Douglas was registered at the Clubs site, www.rlaexchange.org/hero, by his Aunt, Roxanne Kainz, of Round Lake Beach. Douglas is a 2007 graduate from Round Lake Senior High School. He has been serving our country in the U.S. Army for two and half years. He is an Engineering Specialist currently serving in Afghanistan.

“His family is very proud of him and are honored that Douglas is our April Hometown Hero,” according to Sherry Ridge, the Hometown Hero Project Chair. Many family members will be present when the Club presents his plaque.

The committee will be filling his “Hanging with the Heroes” care packages with summer sausage, crackers, tootsie rolls, and skittles along with a personalized “Hanging with the Heroes” t-shirt and letters from Round Lake Area School District 116 students. Every month we send an awesome “Hanging with the Heroes” t-shirt that was created and donated by John Tomusiak owner of Artrageous in Hainseville.

The Club will present a plaque on behalf of the April Hometown Hero at their April 27, meeting. The meeting is held at Panera Bread in Round Lake Beach, 7:30 a.m.

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. Five minutes will get them registered. If you have a neighbor, family member, friend, employee, employer, etc. serving in the military please register them by going to www.rlaexchange.org/hero. We look forward to announcing the May Hometown Hero. For more information visit the web site or you can contact Sherry Ridge at 847-740-2379.

Cher was registered at the Clubs site, www.rlaexchange.org/hero, by friend, Sally Goodman of Gurnee.Cher is a Round Lake resident who is currently working on her MBA from Cardinal Stritch University. Before joining the Army Cher held numerous positions in the Greater Round Lake Area business community. In addition to chairing the Round Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Home and Business Expo, Cher also served on the Chambers Board of Directors. She is currently serving at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.

“I was happy to see Cher’s registration come through and am proud that we can honor this homegrown hometown hero,” according to Sherry Ridge, the Hometown Hero Project Chair.

The committee will be filling her “Hanging with the Heroes” care packages with beef jerky, crackers, chocolate and lots of candy to share, as well as a personalized “Hanging with the Heroes” shirt and letters from Round Lake Area School District 116 students.

The Club will present a plaque on behalf of the March Hometown Hero at their March 23, meeting. The meeting is held at Panera Bread in Round Lake Beach, 7:30 a.m.

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. Five minutes will get them registered. If you have a neighbor, family member, friend, employee, employer, etc. serving in the military please register them by going to www.rlaexchange.org/hero. We look forward to announcing the February Hometown Hero. For more information visit the web site or you can contact Sherry Ridge at 847-740-2379.

Nicholas was registered at the Clubs site, www.rlaexchange.org/hero, by his parents Steve & Jean Rahn also from Fox Lake. Jean had read about the Clubs Americanism Project in a local newspaper. Nicholas is currently serving in Afghanistan and has been there since September of last year. He is a 2008 Grant Community High School graduate that decided to follow his father’s footsteps when he enlisted in the Marines in May of 2009.

Sherry Ridge, the Hometown Hero Project Chair, shared, “In his short time in Afghanistan he has lost over 20 fellow Marines from his unit, his mother feels that getting his ‘Hanging with the Heroes’ care package will do a lot to lift his spirits.” Nicholas is the only child or the Rahn’s and they are extremely proud of his choice to serve in the Marines.

Ridge will be filling his ”Hanging with the Heroes” care packages with beef jerky, crackers, trail mix, cookies and chocolate as well as a personalized “Hanging with the Heroes” shirts and letters from Round Lake Area School District 116 students.

The Club will present the Rahn family with a plaque on behalf of the February Hometown Hero at their February 9, meeting. The meeting is held at Panera Bread in Round Lake Beach, 7:30 a.m.

Both Marines were registered at the Clubs website by their Father, Barry Pickerall. Andrew recently completed boot camp and additional training and is now at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, while David is at Camp Lejuene in North Carolina, after serving a six month tour in Afghanistan. Both Marines are Grayslake Central High School graduates, David from the class of 2008 and Andrew from 2010.

Both “Hanging with the Heroes” care packages will be filled with peanut butter cups, candy bars, cookies as well as their personalized “Hanging with the Heroes” shirts and letters from Round Lake Area School District 116 students.

The Club will present the Pickerall family with plaques on behalf of the January Hometown Heroes at their January 12, meeting. The meeting is held at Panera Bread in Round Lake Beach, 7:30 a.m.

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. Five minutes is all it takes to get them registered. If you have a neighbor, family member, friend, employee, employer, etc. serving in the military please register them by going to our registration page. We look forward to announcing the December Hometown Hero.

For more information click here or contact Sherry Ridge at 847-740-2379.

He was registered by his friend Reverend Ricky Bueno of Round Lake Heights. Reverend Bueno shared with the Club’s Americanism Hometown Hero Project Chair, Sherry Ridge, “Naul has received many honors and medals during the time he has served our country such as the Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Iraqi service medals, NCO Service Medals and others.” Specialist Conejo entered the Army in January of 2007 and is currently stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State. He is a member of New Hope Christian Community Church and has volunteered with Reverend Bueno at Frontline Street Intervention, a gang outreach organization.

His “Hanging with the Heroes” care package will be filled with beef jerky, peanut butter snacks, protein bars as well as his personalized “Hanging with the Heroes” shirt and letters from Round Lake Area School District 116 students. He is the RLA Exchange Club’s third Hero. Ridge said “Thanks to our December sponsor ACE Hardware Round Lake, we will be able send Specialist Conejo a special request of a ESV Study Bible.”

The Club will present Reverend Bueno with a plaque on behalf of Specialist Conejo at their December 22, meeting. The meeting is held at Panera Bread, 7:30 a.m.

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. Five minutes is all it takes to get them registered. If you have a neighbor, family member, friend, employee, employer, etc. serving in the military please register them by going to www.rlaexchange.org/hero. We look forward to announcing the December Hometown Hero.

For more information click here or contact Sherry Ridge at 847-740-2379.

According to the Exchange Club’s Americanism Hometown Hero Project Chair, Sherry Ridge, “Luis has finished his basic training, came home for a few days, and is now back in California to continue his training. His sister, Laura, registered him and his “Hanging with the Heroes” care package will be filled with chips, pretzels, popcorn, candy and, of course, letters from Round Lake Area School District 116 students. He is the RLA Exchange Club’s second Hometown Hero and BEST, Bringing Everyone’s Strengths Together, is this month’s sponsor.

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. Five minutes is all it takes to get them registered. If you have a neighbor, family member, friend, employee, employer, etc. serving in the military please register them by going to www.rlaexchange.org/hero. We look forward to announcing the December Hometown Hero. For more information visit the web site or you can contact Sherry Ridge at 847-740-2379.

For more information click here or contact Sherry Ridge at 847-740-2379.