Christmas Tree Ship Brings 1,200 Trees to Chicago Families. Chicago (CBS) — On Friday, a U.S. Coast Guard vessel from Michigan brought 1,200 Christmas trees to Navy Pier.
To deliver those trees to underprivileged families in the Chicago region, the cutter Mackinaw embarked on the yearly Christmas Tree Ship journey.
The journey traced the one taken by the Rouse Simmons, the first Christmas Tree Ship, which sank in Lake Michigan in 1912 while transporting trees to Chicago. To honor the 16 sailors who perished, the Mackinaw stopped for a minute of silence at the location where the Rouse Simmons sank on its voyage.
“Being able to do this for the staff and myself is such a privilege. This excursion usually takes place during the first week of December. Commander Jeanette Green, the commanding officer of the Mackinaw, stated, “The lakes are getting cold and ice is beginning to form, and usually we’re in our busiest time pulling the buoys out of the water before the ice gets to them. We get to stop right in the middle of it, and we get to honor the sailors whose lives were lost in a very similar time of year.” “We get to come to this beautiful city, and we get to do this just beautifully fun mission.”
The non-profit Ada S. McKinley Community Services will distribute the trees to over 1,000 people across the city when local youth volunteers offload them from the Mackinaw. The trees were bought solely through donations from the Chicago region and other supporters.
The Coast Guard Academy glee club and the Hubbard High School choir will perform at the Navy Pier Christmas Tree Dedication Ceremony on Saturday at 10 a.m. On Saturday, from 1:30 to 4 p.m., visitors can also take a Mackinaw tour.
