Latest southern Colorado news, weather and sports from FOX21 News

CASCADE, COLO. -- The American Red Cross is honoring some "Hometown Heroes." They're people and organizations who exemplify courage, kindness, and unselfish character.

The summer of 2012 was certainly eventful, especially for the students at Ute Pass Elementary. Two big events changed the summer's tone from care-free to frightened. But one man, school principal Chris Briggs-Hale, calmed the minds of 151 students.

"We thought our school was gonna burn down," Sarah, a third grader explained, "I cried a little bit. Then when the mudslide happened it was the best I could do to not cry."

First came the wildfire, which evacuated the student body from their homes. Then in July, a mudslide which wiped out their favorite spot.

"No one would give our school money to have our playground rebuilt but he never gave up," Gentry, another Ute Pass student, explained.
"He kept on calling and calling until he got somebody who would rebuild it," Kaiden, a third grader, added.

The nominee himself said a telephone call with a student inspired the project.
"She said, 'is our playground gonna be okay?' and I said yes, it's gonna be okay," Briggs-Hale explained, "Her words were playing in my mind for a long time, and I knew that it was all about creation from there."

He says an important message was learned from the sad summer.
"It makes you stronger. We're better than we were," he said, "So... fire tests your metal."

The student body couldn't come up with enough good things to say...
"You would like him right away. You would think he's a stranger but they would think he was a friend right away," Sarah said.
"I just think he's the kindest thing ever," Gentry added.
"I think we feel really lucky," Kaiden explained.

The school even wrote him a song to sing at his surprise assembly when they told him he'd won.

"He deserves really whatever is best," Sarah said, "cause he is the best."

The "Hometown Heroes" will receive their awards March 21 at the Antler's Hilton. You can find information about tickets to the event and how to become a Red Cross volunteer at PPARC.org