The Hero Project

The Hero Project, established in 2010, is an effort to identify and recognize former Father Ryan students who left school to serve their country in WWII. Many of these brave young men did not return from battle. Others returned home but were unable to come back to Father Ryan to graduate.

The Hero Project seeks to recognize these men by presenting them or their families an honorary diploma. In order to do so, we need a committee of volunteers to research our WWII bound students. If you or someone you know would be interested in serving as a Hero Project Committee Member, please contact Angela Mills '85, Director of Alumni & Communications.

If you have a family member who left Father Ryan to serve in WWII and did not receive a diploma, please contact the Alumni Office at 615-269-7926 or alumni@fatherryan.org.

 Please see below for the account from this year's service

9/11 and Hero Project Touch the School

It's hard to find the single, most-moving moment of the morning's 9/11 Prayer Service. Perhaps the appearance of our first responders, which prompted every single student to stand in a moving ovation to this group of alumni and parents. Or the sound of the chorus and the haunting and hopeful message of "Amazing Grace," sung by sophomore Maddie Sampson. The salute to our first Hero Project honoree, David Leo Langdon '43, as his daughters Andrea and Lynn '75 and brothers Jim '54 and Pat '58 accepted his honorary diploma. Or the powerfully simply sound of "Taps", played as a round by three Father Ryan trumpeteers, touching the tear ducts and the hearts of all assembled.

It was a stirring morning, simple in its presentation, resonant in its purpose and heartfelt in its emotion.

To relive moments from this morning, please view the slideshow below and view coverage from Channel 5.