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Trident, April 5, 2004Page 7by Virginia Beaton,Trident staffMarking their 61stanniversary, former membersof the University NavalTraining Division(UNTD) will be holdingtheir national reunion inHalifax.The event takes placebetween July 1 and 6, 2004and over 100 UNTD membersare expected to attendfrom across the country,according to Bob Willson,one of the organizers."We have people comingfrom Vancouver, Victoria,Calgary, Montreal, QuebecCity, and some from theUnited States," said Willson.A retired Navy Commander,Willson participatedin the UNTD in 1951,1952 and 1953 and transferredto the Regular Force,serving for 35 years until hisretirement.Willson explained thatfrom 1943 until 1968, theUNTD offered Naval trainingto university students,while comparable programsalso existed presentingArmy and Air Force trainingto students.UNTD was organized as away to provide officer trainingand preparation toprospective Navalreservists. Upon graduationfrom school and successfulcompletion of UNTD training,candidates were offeredcommissions and somestayed in the Naval Reserveswhile other moved into theRegular Force.Even for those who didnot take up fulltime militarycareers, Willson observed,"Most of the people whowere in UNTD got a lot ofbenefits from it in terms oflife skills such as disciplineand perseverance."He named some ofUNTD's more notable participants,including Vice-Admiral (Ret'd) DuncanMiller, formerly the commanderof MARLANT;Admiral John Anderson;Commodore Mike Cooper;journalist and broadcasterRobert McNeil and writerPeter C. Newman.Willson emphasizes thatthe Halifax reunion event ispurely a social gathering,not an annual general meeting."There's no businessside to it....Most of it is simplypeople getting together.(left to right:) Senator Noël Kinsella, Capt Marco Dallaire (of the aircrew)It's an opportunity for peopleto reacquaint themselveswith friends they went touniversity with, or did theirReserve training with."The UNTD reunion eventsbegin on Thursday, July 1with registration and a meetand greet at the RoyalArtillery Park Officers' Mess.On Friday, July 2, buses willtake participants for a tour ofthe Dockyard and lunchaboard one of the ships of thefleet.Plans for that eveninginclude a dinner at the ConventionCentre, after whichthe diners will be piped to theirreserved seats in the MetroCentre to attend the Nova ScotiaInternational Tattoo.The Saturday scheduleconsists of a two-hour bustour of Halifax includingstops at the Citadel and Mar-itime Command Museumbefore finishing on the waterfrontat Sackville Place, nearHMCS Sackville. The afternoonis free for sightseeing orshopping and Saturday night'sactivities include a receptionand traditional mess dinnerheld in the Harbourfront DiningRoom of the Casino NovaScotia Hotel.On Sunday, July 4, KingsCollege Chapel will host amorning church service followedby Up Spirits in theKings College CommonRoom, the former Wardroomfor HMCS Kings."There's a long and historicconnection with theNavy there," commentedWillson. Lunch will beserved at Sherriff Hall onthe Dalhousie Universitycampus.While this concludes thecontributed photoHCol Murphy (left) presents MCpl Foote with his CD1at the 12 AMS Medals Parade held March 23, 2004 atthe Shearwater Aviation Museum.Senator Noël Kinsella during a visit to 12 Wing(Shearwater, NS) March 19, 2004. The stop in Shearwaterwas one of many, during the Senator's visit to MARLANT.While at the base, the Senator went flying aboard a SeaKing helicopter, and posed for this picture. The visit waspart of the Canadian Forces Parliamentary Program,which is designed to increase awareness and educatedignitaries as to the operational capabilities, jobs andlifestyles of the Canadian Forces.UNTD reunion in Halifax for summer 2004formal reunion schedule,several optional extras areavailable, including a lobsterdinner Sunday eveningat the Shore Club in Hubbardsand a day trip onMonday, July 5, comprisinga bus tour to Peggy's Coveand Lunenburg, lunch at theBoscawen Inn and tours ofthe Fisheries Museum ofthe Atlantic and the historictown of Lunenburg.Further information onthe reunion or other activitiesconnected to UNTD canbe obtained through thewebsite at www.untd.org, bycontacting the UNTD Associationc/o the Navy LeagueOntario, 900 Yonge Street,Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario,M2N 6B7, or by telephoningBob Willson at 416-927-1496.464-131014 HIGHFIELD PARK DRIVE