The Round Lake Area Exchange Club members Dr. Ken Rose, principal of Indian Hill Elementary School and Sherry Ridge, Chair of the Hometown Hero Committee were on hand when U.S. Army
Todd Jackson was welcomed home at the American Legion in Round Lake Park. Jackson was surprised by the home coming celebration and honored to know that he is the club’s December hometown hero.
This months sponsor is the Round Lake Area Park District. Jackson attended Round Lake High School and graduated from Joliet Jobs Corps in 2004. He is a Round Lake Park resident and just came home from a tour in Altimur Afghanistan; where he and his fellow soldiers worked on route clearance that entailed sweeping for IED’s. He earned the Combat Badge during deployment when his unit was under engaged in gunfire. He will be at Fort Polk in Louisiana for the next year.
PFC Jackson was registered at the Clubs site, www.rlaexchange.org/hero, by his mother, Linda Jackson who shared, “He joined the Army because he was motivated to serve his country and make a difference in his life as well as the lives of others.”
According to Hometown Hero Project Chair, Sherry Ridge, “With the help of the Round Lake Area Park District Jackson’s Hanging with the Heroes care package will be filled with beef Jerky, chips, snacks and of course 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 School District 116 students.