The Loyalist May 2021

May 2021 Robert Land Academy The Loyalist Inside 30 years of dedicated service This Issue Major B Simmons Hearing that Major (Al) Spaan started his employ- ment thirty years ago at Robert Land Bug run Academy on May 31, 1991. Before Al saddled himself behind the desk A Message from of Academy finance, he served in the Lincoln & Welland Regiment for thir- the Headmaster teen years, serving a six month tour of duty in Cyprus attached to the Princess Fraser Eadie Patricia’s Light Infantry where he was awarded the United Nations Peace- and RLA keeping Forces in Cyprus, Canadian Peacekeeping Service, and Canadian Old Boy Decoration. Paul Vrana Al retired from the Forces in 2000 with the rank of Sergeant. Al then transi- crunching numbers on days. tioned from Cyprus to Wellandport. Al Taking a Dive began his career as a Staff Sergeant in Al’s role as the Administrative Officer 1991 until he completed his Commerce was less like an accountant and more degree from Brock University. At this like the Wizard of Oz. Walking into point, Al made another transition from supervising students on nights to Continued on Page 10 Make a Donation Bid At The Auction The Family Guild is looking for The auction goes live on June 11. donations for the online auction: Register online and shop often between • Products or Services June 11 and June 23. • Experiences, Vacation Stays, etc. Most items can be picked up at RLA on • Monetary Support June 26. www.Events.RLA.ca June 11 - June 23 www.Events.RLA.ca A Company Report It’s alive, it’s really alive. Hearing the bug run. Recruit C Baz For the better part of four years I have seen the school’s VW Bug in various states. I’ve seen it full of holes; in pieces on the floor, just painted, polished, bare steel and covered in bondo. I was on bed rest with a cough in the barracks when I heard a distinct, low roar dart around campus. It was amazing to see Mr. Blaney doing laps with the bug. It instantly recharged my hope at the prospect that we would finish our long-term project and that it sounded so good! Hearing the raw exhaust were several hurdles that we had to be used safely. Although it took reverberate off the buildings at difficulty jumping as we ran into a great deal of time and it was the Academy around the lap track unidentified parts, short cuts that incredibly frustrating to not move made me think back to tearing turned into long cuts, and having on to another mini-project, when apart that engine, replacing seals, to redo some work until it was the pulleys looked professionally setting up the distributor, trying done to standard. Two years ago, finished, there was a sense of pride to figure out why the fuel pump as the engine was being prepped and accomplishment. I netted did not mount as easily as it did to be reinstalled, I volunteered to several compliments on those, but in the Youtube video we watched. refinish several components for more importantly, knowing the Those Wednesday mornings of the engine. The amount of detail attention to detail, the level of work cutting and welding steel, cursing and precision that was required and focus that goes into finishing the engineers that made the bug to refinish the timing pulleys was machinery was much more the way they did, taking out and a first. Until that point, I had no respected. putting back in the windows, idea how much detail was required Seeing the engine all painted and rewiring different components and to resurface steel. It took almost chromed out instantly revived mine at the end of every clubs day sitting 8 hours of various sanding, wire and other members of the Auto in the driver’s seat making sure the brushing, fine sanding, and re Club’s desire to get back to work clutch still worked. sanding, and more re sanding, and finish our project. I hope to Along the way, there have until finally the pulleys were able see you at the Auction! been some trying times. There “Much of my success I owe to RLA.” Your gift to the Founder’s Scholarship Fund will allow a young man to find that success. The fund provides tuition assistance to families whose sons would benefit from RLA’s program. The Founder’s Scholarship Fund GiveToRLA.ca Page 2 Message from the Headmaster Support RLA Robert Land Academy From The Heavens is a not-for-profit Founder’s RD Smid, MMM, MB, CD organization. School Scholarship fees cover the costs Lieutenant-Colonel (retired) to operate the school Fund Graduation will soon be upon us however additional and many words will be written programming, and spoken about the graduates capital improvements as they commence the next and the Founder’s exciting stage of their lives having Scholarship Fund are completed a very challenging funded solely through and stressful school year under donations. globally adverse pandemic conditions. For today though, I Please visit would like to focus on the deeds www.GiveToRLA.ca and accomplishments of a very different generation of young men who also faced great uncertainty during difficult and Along with the stressful times. At about this time 77 years ago, the men of Founder’s Scholarship the First Canadian Parachute Battalion were completing their Fund and our final rehearsals in preparation for their first operational jump Building Potential which would be into Normandy, France on 6 June 1944 in Fund, which covers support of Operation Overlord. campus improvements Despite a host of obstacles, the Battalion met all of their and major repairs, objectives during that operation and the many that followed RLA recently raised during what would prove to be the final year of World War funds for a rappel II. They were the only Canadian unit to fight in the Ardennes tower through our $120,000 (Battle of the Bulge); they participated in the largest airborne 2021 Signature $112,500 operation ever to take place by jumping into the Rhine; Campaign. and they finished the war being the only Canadian unit to $105,000 encounter the Russians when they beat them by getting to the The climber has $97,500 coastal town of Wismar, Germany first. reached the top of $90,000 The First Canadian Parachute Battalion was an exceptional his rappel tower $82,500 unit and exemplified the Canadian spirit. Robert Land thanks to a grant $75,000 Academy was fortunate to have benefitted from the leadership from the Dan $67,500 and mentorship of so many of the Battalion’s veterans Foundation and including their final Commanding Officer, Lieutenant- $60,000 funds raised by the Colonel Fraser Eadie, who was the Chair of the Academy’s Family Guild wine $52,500 Board and for whom our parade square is named in his $45,000 honour. We are also grateful for the mentorship provided tasting event. $37,500 by Sergeant Ronald ‘Andy’ Anderson for whom one of our We appreciate the major graduation awards is named and for the memorabilia support for our $30,000 of Sergeant John Feduck which graces the foyer of our students and the $22,500 administration building providing a tangible reminder of the school. Thank you! $15,000 Battalion and its accomplishments. $7,500 Tower Academy Rappel Robert Land A new generation will shortly be making its mark on the world. I am hopeful that they will do so by exhibiting the same characteristics and values possessed by the men of Robert Land Academy the First Canadian Parachute Battalion. Their sacrifice and 6727 South Chippawa Rd example will continue to echo through the generations and Wellandport, ON L0R 2J0 they will always have a home at Robert Land Academy. Ex 905-386-6203 Coelis. www.rla.ca [email protected] Page 3 B Company Report Hard times, two Inspections, what’s next? Cadet N Thompson wasn’t on our same schedule and had gone into my turnout. v We lat- thinking about it now, I know it er finished the inspection and were Covid’s not over and it’s not like- paid off massively. I can’t thank called into the Common Room. ly to be until more vaccines are everyone enough, including our The ASM commented on the dras- administered, but myself and my Company Commander, our CSMs, tic overall improvement. Our Top peers in my company have seen and our evening staff for all the 3 boys also commented positively more than a company could take time and effort they put into help- on the teamwork we demonstrat- this year. ing our barracks come out as a ed. To celebrate we did push ups company with solid character. I with the ASM! I still remember Before our April Stand Down we also want to thank our Barracks the ASM saying “push up position, had two ASM/Headmaster inspec- and Platoon ICs> I can’t thank everywhere” and as a company we tions. During these times of prepa- those ICs enough for their contin- cracked out ten solid push ups as ration our barracks at first wasn’t uous efforts put into our company the team we were. where LCol Smid and CWO Zahra this year. Two weeks later for our After a hard month of March, and wanted our company to be. Our second ASM/HM inspection we looking forward I have really seen inspection that week was a very were suited up and ready to go. the worst of RLA and now I have strong inspection of our individual seen the best.

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