I'm Joseph Gallant, and welcome to a special edition of "Lounge TV". Normally, our program consists of light entertainment with some humorous camraderie between our vocalist Joan Goodman, our musical director David Cuddy, and myself. This week, you won't see any of that.

Instead, we're presenting a solemn presentation of patriotic music as a tribute to the heroes of the saddest day in the recent history of our country---September 11th, 2001.

Although anywhere between 3,000 and 5,500 people--we may never know the exact number--died in the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York City and another 200 people died at the Pentagon near Washington, the truth is that if it weren't for some very special heroes, the number of casualities may have been much higher.

We intend to salute the heroes of September 11th, 2001. Heroes such as the fire department of Arlington, Virginia, the actual location of the Pentagon, whose quick efforts prevented the death toll there from rising further.

It's heroes like Mayor Rudolph Guiliani of New York City. Faced with a crisis that no mayor of any city should ever have to face, Mr. Guiliani's response to and actions following the attack on the World Trade Center have earend him admiration from millions of people throughout the world.

It's heroes such as the owner of a coffee shop in lower Manhattan, near the World Trade Center. Seeing on TV that one of the towers had begun to collapse, the owner noticed a woman walking on the street outside his shop. Running outside, he grabbed the woman, shoved her inside his shop, and closed the door. A second or two later, a massive cloud of dust and debris raced past the front of the coffee shop. Had that woman not been shoved inside the coffee shop, she would have choked to death.

It's heroes such as the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93, enroute to San Francisco from Newark. These heroes overpowered terrorists who had hijacked their plane. Although Flight 93 crashed near Pittsburgh, with no survivors, the passengers of Flight 93 must still be considered heroes. Their actions may have saved dozens, hundreds, or perhaps even thousands of lives.

It's heroes such as the rescue workers who have been on the job, day and night, weekday, weekend and holiday, since September 11th, 2001. They are likely to remain there for most of the year 2002, if not the entire year.

It's especially heroes such as the men and women of the New York Police Department and the New York Fire Department. Often risking their lives, sometimes even making the Supreme Sacrifice, the staggering death toll at the World Trade Center may have been much higher were it not for these unselfish men and women who risked personal safety so other people could get out alive.

This week, we'll be presenting a program of patriotic music as a tribute to these ordinary people who, on September 11th, 2001, did some extraordinary things.

By Joseph Gallant, Host of "Lounge TV"

Copyright (c) Joseph Gallant 2001

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Used By Permission

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