The WB’s “7th Heaven” Pays Tribute To America’s Heroes With “The Known Soldier” Episode

(March 20, 2002 – Burbank, CA) – The WB’s family drama “7TH HEAVEN” tells the real-life story of Staff Sgt. Dwight J. Morgan, one of America’s fallen heroes, in the episode entitled “The Known Soldier” airing on Monday, May 6 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET). Twenty-four-year-old Morgan was a member of the famous Flying Tigers, a squadron based at the Marine Corps Air Station at Miramar in San Diego, California. He was one of two Marines killed in a resupply mission to the U.S. Forces when their helicopter crashed outside of Kabul, Afghanistan in January of this year. “I am grateful to be in a position to publicly thank those men and women who serve and have served in our Armed Forces,” said Brenda Hampton, creator and executive producer of “7TH HEAVEN.” “We must not forget the events of September 11th or those who have volunteered to fight our battles for us.” In this special episode of “7TH HEAVEN,” the Camdens learn about Staff Sgt. Morgan through Ruthie's (Mackenzie Rosman) email correspondence with him and are devastated when they learn of his death while on duty in Afghanistan. Colonel Camden (guest star Peter Graves, “Mission Impossible”) breaks the tragic news to an upset and bewildered Ruthie. In the episode, CeCe Winans, the recent Grammy Award winner for Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album, performs “The Star-Spangled Banner” in a moving memorial service scene led by Reverend Camden (Stephen Collins) dedicated to Staff Sgt. Morgan with his family and actual representatives of the Marine Corps in attendance. Additionally, Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Ernest Borgnine (“Marty,” “McHale’s Navy,” “The Dirty Dozen”) guest-stars in the episode as a veteran. Eighty-five-year-old Borgnine, who in real life served in the Navy for 10 years, was honored as Veteran of the Year in 1999 and has received numerous Lifetime Achievement Awards, three honorary doctorates, the title Honorary Flight Leader for the Blue Angels as well as a “Lone Sailor” award from the Navy Memorial Foundation. In honor of Staff Sgt. Morgan’s service and commitment to his country, the Camden family advocates good deeds in their community including donating money to a memorial fund in his honor, distributing flags, laying flowers at the Veteran’s cemetery and helping the elderly and the homeless. “I challenge each of the millions of viewers watching this episode to do as the Rev. Camden suggests in the script – commit one act of kindness in honor of Staff Sgt. Dwight J. Morgan. Dedicating just one hour of television to a man’s life doesn’t seem like enough,” said Hampton. Tom Petty’s anthem “I Won’t Back Down” will be heard at the beginning and end of the episode and a list of the American personnel who have lost their lives in the fight against terrorism will run at the end of the episode. “7TH HEAVEN” has been the highest-rated series on The WB for four consecutive seasons and is produced by Spelling Television, Inc., a Paramount/Viacom company. # # #