
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 25, 1990                   TAG: 9005250648
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A12   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: DUNKIRK, FRANCE                                LENGTH: Short

THOUSANDS REUNITE AT HISTORIC DUNKIRK

Vessels large and small, many of them the same ones that rescued hundreds of thousands of Allied troops from the Nazi onslaught, made their way across the English Channel to mark the 50th anniversary of the evacuation.

Thursday's 10-hour crossing by the so-called "Little Ships" began a weekend of celebrations reuniting about 5,000 French and British veterans - some in their 90s - who fled to England just ahead of the advancing German army in 1940.

The dozens of vessels in the flotilla hoisted the British naval ensign and entered Dunkirk waters in formation Thursday afternoon behind the frigate HMS Alacrity to be greeted by a throng of local officials and well-wishers.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing, I suppose," Hon. British Consul to Dunkirk Sandy Baker said. "They won't be able to do this again 50 years from now."

by CNB