James Ryan Dennison laid to rest

Hundreds of mourners filed out of St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Frederick Wednesday morning following the funeral for Capt. John ‘‘Ryan” Dennison of Ijamsville.

The melody of a traditional Catholic song ‘‘How Great Thou Art” wafted from the church’s interior as dozens members of Patriotic Guard Riders, donning black leather bike wear, lined Church Street holding American flags to salute the procession.

With few words, Dennison’s family and friends consoled each other, wiping tears and hugging, as Dennison’s flag-draped casket was placed into a hearse. The procession was scheduled to trek to Arlington National Cemetery for an 11:30 a.m. ceremony.

Dennison, 24, a paratrooper who grew up in Ijamsville, died Nov. 15 after a small arms fire outbreak near Kirkush, Iraq, with his Fort Bragg, N.C., unit — the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.

A 2000 graduate of Urbana High, Dennison participated on the school’s wrestling and football teams. He graduated from West Point in May, and was immediately commissioned as a second lieutenant, according to a press release from the 82nd Airborne Division.

‘‘Capt. Dennison was a superb young officer and warrior,” Dennison’s brigade combat team commander, Col. Bryan Owens, said in a press release. ‘‘He led from the front in all that he did.”

Dennison’s family requested that media not attend the services on Wednesday.

‘‘Ryan served our family and his country with tremendous honor and courage, and it is our goal to spend this time honoring him appropriately,” said his mother, Shannon Dennison, in the release. ‘‘We wish to thank all of our friends and family for their steadfast support and love as we cope with this tragic loss.”

Dennison was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He also received the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Ranger Tab and Parachutist’s Badge, according to the 82nd Airborne Division.

Dennison’s friend of 17 years, Jonathan Sanderson of Monrovia, recently recalled Dennison, whom he met in Cub Scouts, as a leader and an adventuresome go-getter who was more curious about other’s lives than talking about his own.

‘‘He couldn’t be sitting around watching TV,” Sanderson said. ‘‘We were always out doing something. ... He didn’t fear anything in life.”

Dennison is survived by his parents, sister Colleen Dennison, 23, brother Chris Dennison, 24, and wife 1st Lt. Haley Dennison, a soldier who was stationed in Afghanistan.

From the Gazette

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