WINTHROP – Very rarely does life offer anyone a chance to be a part of something monumental that brings so much joy to so many people. And for that event to keep its place in history is even more rare. And to be able to do it on one of the largest international stages at the ripe, old age of 25 makes it even rarer still.?I think that?s what?s so special, how many times people come up to me and they tell me, it?s almost the same thing all the time: ?I remember where I was when,?” said Mike Eruzione.?People say to me, ?I remember where I was when we won.? And I look at them, ?we?? Because they felt a part of it, people felt a part of our team.”Anyone of a certain age will remember exactly where he or she was 35 years ago Sunday night, when the most improbable Olympic win in United States history captivated the country, as an American team of mostly college kids beat the powerhouse Soviets in an electrifying, come-from-behind 4-3 victory.Eruzione, the captain of that team, scored the game-winning goal.?It?s always nice because they?ve always got a smile on their face,” Eruzione continued. “I?ve had people come up to me and just literally start crying because that moment meant so much to them, whether it was their last moment with their dad or mom, their grandfather or grandmother, watching TV.?It was a special moment for a lot of people for a lot of different reasons. And that?s what makes it so great because there?s always a smile on their face.”There was no way this team of American kids was supposed to beat the Soviets.Less than two weeks before, Team USA – the youngest Olympic team ever fielded by the United States – had taken a 10-3 shellacking in an exhibition game against the same Soviet team. U.S. coach Herb Brooks made sure his team was ready the next time. Not given to speeches, Brooks had a simple message for his team on that Friday night in 1980 in Lake Placid, N.Y.?You were born to be a player,” he told his team. “You were meant to be here. This moment is yours.”And they stole it.It was a win that changed the landscape – politically, globally, athletically. American morale had been flagging in the winter of 1980. The Cold War was still quietly simmering. The American economy was slumping. Fifty-two Americans were still being held hostage in Iran.That win gave Americans something to cheer about. And they did. The 8,500 at the arena in Lake Placid – renamed in 2005 the Herb Brooks Arena – went wild.?The energy in the building was amazing,” Eruzione said. “That?s when ?U-S-A, U-S-A? chants really started. So that was pretty amazing. And it was amazing because when you were on the ice, you didn?t hear a thing. You heard Herb calling for a line change or a teammate calling for a pass. But when you sat on the bench you heard ?U-S-A, U-S-A? and the place going crazy. And when you crossed onto the ice it was silent again; you were so focused on what you were doing.”After that win, the Iranian hostages eventually came home. The Soviet Union broke up. The Cold War became marginally less cold.Americans had reason to be proud.But for all that the win against the Soviets delivered in American patriotism, symbolism and pride, it would have gone for naught if the Americans had not beaten Finland less than 48 hours later for the gold medal. Because of the point system, an American loss or tie to Finland could have dropped the team to fourth place. But on that Sunday morning, in another come-from-behind win, the Americans beat Finland for the gold medal – their first in 20 years at that time, and their last one since.Cloistered inside the Olympic village, the players had little idea of the effect the game was having on the country. Once outside, it was impossible not to notice.?I?ll never forget it,” Eruzione said. “The crowd at (Logan) Airport that greeted the Boston guys – me, Jack (O?Callahan, of Charlestown) and Dave (Silk, of Scituate); Jimmy (Craig, of North Easton) went to Atlanta – was incredible. And when I left Logan Airpor