Giving Thanks For Everyday American Heroes

Meet 5 who answered the call, and hear what they learned from their acts of kindness and courage

No. 1: Bus driver to the rescue

Richard Lucas stands in front of a burned-out home in Buffalo, N.Y. Lucas was driving a bus in July when he noticed smoke coming from a two-story house, home to two families. Lucas stopped and pounded on the door to wake the families sleeping inside. The families, shown standing on the porch of their former home, credit him with saving their lives. They are Shannon Reiter, Alysa Huertas, 13, Hanna Huertas, 10, Briana Huertas, 8, Emily Hunter, RosaLynda Baez, 11, MarcoAntonio Baez, 9, and Emiliana Baez, 5.

 Richard Lucas, 45, receives letters from the two families he rescued from the house blaze. "Everytime I drive by the house, I think about what would have happened had I not stopped," Lucas says.

 Fire victims extend their gratitude to Lucas, who reads letters from one of the children he saved from the burning home. Authorities still do not know what caused the blaze

No. 2: Good Samaritan

Victor Perez chased down a suspected kidnapper in his truck, shown here in Fresno, Calif. His actions are credited with freeing an abducted 8-year-old girl.

No. 3: Hero tot

Jaden Bolli is credited with saving the life of his grandmother, Patricia Bolli, who is holding him at her home in Maple Shade, N.J. Bolli had a seizure and Jaden, then 3, helped her by calling 911

No. 4: 'Amazing woman'

After seeing his plea for a kidney donation on Facebook, April Capone Almon donated her organ to Carlos Sanchez. They have formed a close friendship because of it and are seen here catching up near the East Haven Town Hall in East Haven, Conn., where Almon is mayor. "She is an amazing woman," Sanchez says

No. 5: 'Lucky'

Christa Brelsford, 25, was volunteering in a literacy program in Haiti when the January earthquake hit. She was pinned by falling rubble until several Haitians, including Wenson George, 19, helped rescue her. Brelsford, who ended up having her right leg amputated below the knee, is committed to giving back to the Haitian community. "I was lucky," she says. Now, her family is planning to bring George to Anchorage so he can attend high school.

Giving Thanks For Everyday American Heroes

Meet 5 who answered the call, and hear what they learned from their acts of kindness and courage

No. 1: Bus driver to the rescue

Richard Lucas stands in front of a burned-out home in Buffalo, N.Y. Lucas was driving a bus in July when he noticed smoke coming from a two-story house, home to two families. Lucas stopped and pounded on the door to wake the families sleeping inside. The families, shown standing on the porch of their former home, credit him with saving their lives. They are Shannon Reiter, Alysa Huertas, 13, Hanna Huertas, 10, Briana Huertas, 8, Emily Hunter, RosaLynda Baez, 11, MarcoAntonio Baez, 9, and Emiliana Baez, 5.

 Richard Lucas, 45, receives letters from the two families he rescued from the house blaze. "Everytime I drive by the house, I think about what would have happened had I not stopped," Lucas says.

 Fire victims extend their gratitude to Lucas, who reads letters from one of the children he saved from the burning home. Authorities still do not know what caused the blaze

No. 2: Good Samaritan

Victor Perez chased down a suspected kidnapper in his truck, shown here in Fresno, Calif. His actions are credited with freeing an abducted 8-year-old girl.

No. 3: Hero tot

Jaden Bolli is credited with saving the life of his grandmother, Patricia Bolli, who is holding him at her home in Maple Shade, N.J. Bolli had a seizure and Jaden, then 3, helped her by calling 911

No. 4: 'Amazing woman'

After seeing his plea for a kidney donation on Facebook, April Capone Almon donated her organ to Carlos Sanchez. They have formed a close friendship because of it and are seen here catching up near the East Haven Town Hall in East Haven, Conn., where Almon is mayor. "She is an amazing woman," Sanchez says

No. 5: 'Lucky'

Christa Brelsford, 25, was volunteering in a literacy program in Haiti when the January earthquake hit. She was pinned by falling rubble until several Haitians, including Wenson George, 19, helped rescue her. Brelsford, who ended up having her right leg amputated below the knee, is committed to giving back to the Haitian community. "I was lucky," she says. Now, her family is planning to bring George to Anchorage so he can attend high school.

Young Taiwanese Woman Plans to Marry Herself

 30-year-old Chen Wei-yih is set to defy Asian perception of single independent women as failures, by marrying herself, on November 6.

The young Taiwanese from Taipei has been dreaming about getting married ever since she was just a little girl. Now that she’s all grown up, she’s ready to put on the traditional white dress and veil and finally tie the knot…with herself. Like many other Asian women, Chen Wei-yih focused most of her attention on her career and hasn’t been able to find a suitable partner. While other girls go as far as stripping in public to find husbands, Chen decided it’s more important to first love herself before she loves others, and asked her own hand in marriage.
The wedding ceremony is set to take place on November 6, when Chen Wei-yih will put on her wedding dress and go out for a gourmet meal with family members and 30 of her closest friends. After the wedding, Chen and her beloved self will leave on a romantic honeymoon to Autralia.
Chen-Wei-yih courage to challenge social perception in such an original way has inspired many, and her Facebook wall has been assaulted with messages of encouragement and appreciation, sent mostly by young Asian women like herself. 

Young Taiwanese Woman Plans to Marry Herself

 30-year-old Chen Wei-yih is set to defy Asian perception of single independent women as failures, by marrying herself, on November 6.

The young Taiwanese from Taipei has been dreaming about getting married ever since she was just a little girl. Now that she’s all grown up, she’s ready to put on the traditional white dress and veil and finally tie the knot…with herself. Like many other Asian women, Chen Wei-yih focused most of her attention on her career and hasn’t been able to find a suitable partner. While other girls go as far as stripping in public to find husbands, Chen decided it’s more important to first love herself before she loves others, and asked her own hand in marriage.
The wedding ceremony is set to take place on November 6, when Chen Wei-yih will put on her wedding dress and go out for a gourmet meal with family members and 30 of her closest friends. After the wedding, Chen and her beloved self will leave on a romantic honeymoon to Autralia.
Chen-Wei-yih courage to challenge social perception in such an original way has inspired many, and her Facebook wall has been assaulted with messages of encouragement and appreciation, sent mostly by young Asian women like herself. 

Actors Who Sing on the Side

A good actor can play anyone, right? Meet 15 thespians who, with varying degrees of success, have attempted to be singers. (And no vocalists-turned-actors like Babs.) From a “Gladiator” hero to a rehabbing starlet, listen up to these actors with pipes.

Gwyneth Paltrow
Urbane beauty taps inner twang

This Oscar winner sang with Huey Lewis on the “Cruisin’” video and on TV’s music-fueled hit. She’s back this fall in the movie “Country Strong” as an actor ... and singer.


Joaquin Phoenix rap
'Man in Black' does rap

“Sing” is a generous word for the hip-hop musings of this offbeat actor in his recent mockumentary. He received an Oscar nomination for playing a country star in “Walk the Line.”


Lindsay Lohan
Rehabbing starlet generated 'Rumors'

Now living at this rehab facility, the star of “Mean Girls” released two teen-targeted albums in the mid-2000s. A former “American Idol” judge wrote some of her songs.


Eddie Murphy
Comic gets funky for 'Party'

This A-lister gets laughs in films like “Beverly Hills Cop,” yet proves his pipes in a Michael Jackson video and, with help from a “Superfreak,” his own 1985 hit single.

Minnie Driver
English Oscar nom sings of heartache

Matt Damon allegedly dumped her on a talk show, so this actor, Oscar-nominated for a Damon-scripted film, has plenty of pain to fuel her singer-songwriter career.


Kevin Bacon
Actor sizzles in brotherly duo

If you’ve seen him dancing in “Footloose,” you know this actor has rhythm, which comes in handy in his fraternal two-man group.

Lynda Carter
Superhero actor sings the standards

Who knew TV’s Wonder Woman could croon? Since her 1970s heyday, this actor has released several albums and, in 2007, she launched a new act in New York.

Russell Crowe
“Gladiator” star fronts "Grunts"

Oscar named this “Gladiator” star best actor, whom audiences Down Under also know as a singer for his ’80s solo tune, his band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts and his new group.


Billy Bob
Angelina’s ex sings bluesy tunes

In this interview turned viral video, the prickly star of “Sling Blade” (and Angelina Jolie’s ex-husband) insulted Canadians while promoting his country-rock band.

Robert Downy Jr.
“Iron Man” actor proves musical mettle

Before “Iron Man,” this actor won an Oscar nom for playing a silent-movie star in a 1992 biopic for which he sang on the soundtrack. He also released this 2004 solo CD.

Juliette Lewis
Rock is no act for edgy film star

Although she famously sucked this body part of Robert De Niro in “Cape Fear,” fans of her band, the New Romantiques, say this actor really rocks as lead singer

Jamie Foxx
“In Living Color” alum hits pop charts

Since his Oscar for playing a music icon, this multitalented actor has released two hit albums. His collaboration with a top rapper that won a Grammy is due in December.


David Hasselhoff
“Baywatch” hunk a music star abroad

In the States, we associate this actor with television shows involving a talking car and him wearing a red swimsuit (pics), but people in at least one European country consider him a singing star. Really.

Jennifer Love Hewit
Know what she did last album?

The star of “Ghost Whisperer” (is that show still on?) has summoned several albums of moderate chart success. She also appears in a Spanish pop singer’s “Hero” video.

Jared Leto
My so-called musical life?

He’ll always be Jordan Catalano to TV fans, but this actor is also a musician. Alongside his drummer brother, he sings and plays guitar for this rock band.

Actors Who Sing on the Side

A good actor can play anyone, right? Meet 15 thespians who, with varying degrees of success, have attempted to be singers. (And no vocalists-turned-actors like Babs.) From a “Gladiator” hero to a rehabbing starlet, listen up to these actors with pipes.

Gwyneth Paltrow
Urbane beauty taps inner twang

This Oscar winner sang with Huey Lewis on the “Cruisin’” video and on TV’s music-fueled hit. She’s back this fall in the movie “Country Strong” as an actor ... and singer.


Joaquin Phoenix rap
'Man in Black' does rap

“Sing” is a generous word for the hip-hop musings of this offbeat actor in his recent mockumentary. He received an Oscar nomination for playing a country star in “Walk the Line.”


Lindsay Lohan
Rehabbing starlet generated 'Rumors'

Now living at this rehab facility, the star of “Mean Girls” released two teen-targeted albums in the mid-2000s. A former “American Idol” judge wrote some of her songs.


Eddie Murphy
Comic gets funky for 'Party'

This A-lister gets laughs in films like “Beverly Hills Cop,” yet proves his pipes in a Michael Jackson video and, with help from a “Superfreak,” his own 1985 hit single.

Minnie Driver
English Oscar nom sings of heartache

Matt Damon allegedly dumped her on a talk show, so this actor, Oscar-nominated for a Damon-scripted film, has plenty of pain to fuel her singer-songwriter career.


Kevin Bacon
Actor sizzles in brotherly duo

If you’ve seen him dancing in “Footloose,” you know this actor has rhythm, which comes in handy in his fraternal two-man group.

Lynda Carter
Superhero actor sings the standards

Who knew TV’s Wonder Woman could croon? Since her 1970s heyday, this actor has released several albums and, in 2007, she launched a new act in New York.

Russell Crowe
“Gladiator” star fronts "Grunts"

Oscar named this “Gladiator” star best actor, whom audiences Down Under also know as a singer for his ’80s solo tune, his band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts and his new group.


Billy Bob
Angelina’s ex sings bluesy tunes

In this interview turned viral video, the prickly star of “Sling Blade” (and Angelina Jolie’s ex-husband) insulted Canadians while promoting his country-rock band.

Robert Downy Jr.
“Iron Man” actor proves musical mettle

Before “Iron Man,” this actor won an Oscar nom for playing a silent-movie star in a 1992 biopic for which he sang on the soundtrack. He also released this 2004 solo CD.

Juliette Lewis
Rock is no act for edgy film star

Although she famously sucked this body part of Robert De Niro in “Cape Fear,” fans of her band, the New Romantiques, say this actor really rocks as lead singer

Jamie Foxx
“In Living Color” alum hits pop charts

Since his Oscar for playing a music icon, this multitalented actor has released two hit albums. His collaboration with a top rapper that won a Grammy is due in December.


David Hasselhoff
“Baywatch” hunk a music star abroad

In the States, we associate this actor with television shows involving a talking car and him wearing a red swimsuit (pics), but people in at least one European country consider him a singing star. Really.

Jennifer Love Hewit
Know what she did last album?

The star of “Ghost Whisperer” (is that show still on?) has summoned several albums of moderate chart success. She also appears in a Spanish pop singer’s “Hero” video.

Jared Leto
My so-called musical life?

He’ll always be Jordan Catalano to TV fans, but this actor is also a musician. Alongside his drummer brother, he sings and plays guitar for this rock band.