A gas turbine engine system, comprising: a rotor wheel; a plurality of blades mounted about a periphery of the rotor wheel; and a retention device, comprising: a plurality of projections extending from a radial surface of the rotor wheel to form a plurality of circumferential slots about the rotor wheel, wherein the plurality of projections comprises hooks facing an axis of the rotor wheel; a plurality of elongated members positioned within the plurality of circumferential slots to impede axial movement of the plurality of blades, wherein each of the plurality of elongated members comprises a resilient elongated member having a first configuration and a second configuration; characterized in that the system further comprises, a plurality of stops positioned within the plurality of circumferential slots about the plurality of circumferential slots to impede circumferential movement of the plurality of elongated members, wherein the plurality of stops each comprises a block and a pin positioned within the hooks of the plurality of circumferential slots; and a plurality of supports positioned about the plurality of circumferential slots to impede radial inward movement of the plurality of elongated members, wherein the plurality of elongated members is removable from the plurality of circumferential slots without removing the plurality of stops and the plurality of supports by applying an inward radial force to an end of the plurality of elongated members to move the plurality of elongated members from the first configuration, in which the end of the plurality of elongated members is engaged in the circumferential slot, to the second configuration, in which the end of the plurality of elongated members is disengaged from the circumferential slot. a rotor wheel; a plurality of blades mounted about a periphery of the rotor wheel; and a retention device, comprising: a plurality of projections extending from a radial surface of the rotor wheel to form a plurality of circumferential slots about the rotor wheel, wherein the plurality of projections comprises hooks facing an axis of the rotor wheel; a plurality of elongated members positioned within the plurality of circumferential slots to impede axial movement of the plurality of blades, wherein each of the plurality of elongated members comprises a resilient elongated member having a first configuration and a second configuration; characterized in that the system further comprises, a plurality of stops positioned within the plurality of circumferential slots about the plurality of circumferential slots to impede circumferential movement of the plurality of elongated members, wherein the plurality of stops each comprises a block and a pin positioned within the hooks of the plurality of circumferential slots; and a plurality of supports positioned about the plurality of circumferential slots to impede radial inward movement of the plurality of elongated members, wherein the plurality of elongated members is removable from the plurality of circumferential slots without removing the plurality of stops and the plurality of supports by applying an inward radial force to an end of the plurality of elongated members to move the plurality of elongated members from the first configuration, in which the end of the plurality of elongated members is engaged in the circumferential slot, to the second configuration, in which the end of the plurality of elongated members is disengaged from the circumferential slot. a plurality of projections extending from a radial surface of the rotor wheel to form a plurality of circumferential slots about the rotor wheel, wherein the plurality of projections comprises hooks facing an axis of the rotor wheel; a plurality of elongated members positioned within the plurality of circumferential slots to impede axial movement of the plurality of blades, wherein each of the plurality of elongated members comprises a resilient elongated member having a first configuration and a second configuration; characterized in that the system further comprises, a plurality of stops positioned within the plurality of circumferential slots about the plurality of circumferential slots to impede circumferential movement of the plurality of elongated members, wherein the plurality of stops each comprises a block and a pin positioned within the hooks of the plurality of circumferential slots; and a plurality of supports positioned about the plurality of circumferential slots to impede radial inward movement of the plurality of elongated members, wherein the plurality of elongated members is removable from the plurality of circumferential slots without removing the plurality of stops and the plurality of supports by applying an inward radial force to an end of the plurality of elongated members to move the plurality of elongated members from the first configuration, in which the end of the plurality of elongated members is engaged in the circumferential slot, to the second configuration, in which the end of the plurality of elongated members is disengaged from the circumferential slot.