Va. couple keeping spirit alive after Grinch tried to deflate Christmas

BASSETT, Va. (WSET) - Vandals are trying to deflate the Christmas spirit in one Bassett neighborhood.

A couple woke up to their Christmas decorations slashed on Monday; there were 26 in total and it was the neighborhood's favorite Christmas spectacle.

"It really takes a sick person to mess up something like this, and of course I think of all the hard work that it took to get up to begin with," said Michael Peters, owner of the inflatables.

Now in the Peters' yard are ripped Rudolphs and slashed snowmen.

The couple said in the middle of the night, a vandal knifed their Christmas spectacle that's been a neighborhood tradition for the past 30 years.

"These kind of people that do this kind of thing, they're not gonna deter me," Peters said.

With no kids in their home, he said they do it for the children in their community.

Peters said nothing makes him happier than seeing the children's faces light up when they come to visit the backyard North Pole.

"I can't explain it. It's the Christmas joy is what it is," he said.

The Peters' neighbor, John Viden, credits the Peters for always keeping the miracle of Christmas alive on their street.

"They really started the cheer around here," he said. "They're very special."

Viden said he has full faith that Peters will have a show up and running again for the neighborhood by Christmas. In fact, Peters has already started stitching some of the damaged inflatables up. And he's offering a $500 rewardto find the Grinch who cut the Christmas spirit to shreds.

"Don't let nobody take Christmas away from you, no matter what," Peters said. "It's the spirit you have to have inside."