ORU Veterans Lounge Named To Honor Former Student, Marine

An Oral Roberts University graduate and baseball player killed in Afghanistan will forever be remembered at his alma mater.

Friday morning at chapel, ORU president Mark Rutland made an emotional announcement that the university was re-naming its veterans lounge in honor of Captain Ryan Iannelli.

"The new name of the lounge, therefore, will be the Iannelli Memorial Veterans Lounge - a plaque in his honor and in the honor of all those will be hung there. Will you give him a big hand," Rutland said.

Iannelli died on September 28th when his helicopter was attacked by insurgents. The tribute came as part of a patriotic salute to all of our veterans.

The captain was a 2006 ORU graduate and baseball player. He served as a Marine Super Cobra pilot with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269.