Many years ago I spent Christmas Eve in Copenhagen’s Kastrup Airport.

Heavy snow and ice delayed my flight to New York.

Several children on the delayed flight many hours before had been excited about the prospect of reaching New York in time for Christmas. But as Christmas Eve slowly turned into Christmas Day, they were despondent that Santa hadn’t delivered presents to our airport lounge.

Despite their parents’ assurances that Santa would have many presents under the tree when they reached New York, the children’s tears of disappointment were heartbreaking.

Santa had forgotten them.

Around noon, with no departure in sight, several passengers with the assistance of a sympathetic flight attendant and a sympathetic gate attendant arranged to obtain some gifts from the airport stores, have them wrapped and brought to an empty conference room.

There a hastily decorated tree, a plate of stale breakfast biscuits, and orange juice awaited them.

We asked the children to search the room and see if Santa had left any presents.

Their astonishment and joy was priceless.

A small group of “Santas” from around the world made Christmas possible for these children.

They celebrated together that morning, exchanged addresses and stayed in touch for many years.

Their names are long forgotten but the joyful sounds of those children on Christmas and the fellowship of strangers who worked to make a memorable Christmas for them lives on as a lasting holiday memory.