TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1777, American forces defeated the British at the Battle of Bennington in Vermont. In 1917, Vladimir I. Lenin returned to Russia in a sealed train after years in exile. In 1947, the French vessel Grandcamp blew up in the harbor of Texas City, TX, killing at least 500 people. In 2007, a senior at Virginia Tech shot 27 students and 5 faculty members to death on the campus in Blacksburg, VA.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Anatole France (1844-1924), writer; Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977), actor/director/composer; Peter Ustinov (1921-2004), actor; Pope Benedict XVI (1927- ), Roman Catholic leader, is 81; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1947- ), basketball player, is 61; Bill Belichick (1952- ), football coach, is 56; Ellen Barkin (1955- ), actress, is 53; Peter Billingsley (1971- ), actor, is 37.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1999, Wayne Gretzky announced his retirement from professional hockey.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." - Anatole France

TODAY'S FACT: Charlie Chaplin refused to use dialogue in his movies until The Great Dictator in 1940, 13 years after the first "talkie."

TODAY'S NUMBER: 20 - number of professional seasons Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in the NBA before announcing his retirement.

TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter (April 12) and full moon (April 20).