The Miracle of Christmas Village in Bloomington, MN

In a tired New England industrial city like Bridgeport, Conn., some kids got only one shot at Christmas - Christmas Village, a seasonal Santa's workshop tucked away in a city park and run by the Police Athletic League. In December 1982, just days before Christmas Village's scheduled opening, a twisted arsonist burned it to the ground, incinerating the modest gifts, the animated figures and, most importantly, dashing the hopes of some kids and their families for Christmas. A determined mayor would not let that be. "The Miracle of Christmas Village is a story that President Ronald Reagan called "...just one of the most inspiring Christmas stories I've heard in years and years and years." America agreed.