1,200 Christmas trees onto Mackinaw for historic transit to Chicago

Coast Guard crew set to load more than 1,200 Christmas trees onto Mackinaw for historic transit to Chicago

Members of the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw load more than 1,300 Christmas trees in preparation for the annual transit to Chicago where the trees will be given to nonprofit organizations, pre-determined by the Chicago maritime community, and then to needy families, Nov. 20, 2012. The Mackinaw, which has served as the Christmas Ship since 2000 and reenacting a tradition dating back to the late 1890s, makes the annual trip in conjunction with annual fall buoy retrieval operations. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Seaman Robert Butler) 

CHEBOYGAN, Mich. – The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw is scheduled to load 1,220 Christmas trees onto the ship at its homeport of Cheboygan, Mich., on Nov. 25, in preparation for the 2013 Christmas Ship celebration.

The trees will then be transported to Chicago where they will be offloaded on the morning of Dec.7 following a public ceremony at Navy Pier. The trees will be given to nonprofit organizations, selected by members of the Chicago maritime community, then given to deserving families.

Members of the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw load more than 1,300 Christmas trees in preparation for the annual transit to Chicago where the trees will be given to nonprofit organizations, pre-determined by the Chicago maritime community, and then to needy families, Nov. 20, 2012. The Mackinaw, which has served as the Christmas Ship since 2000 and reenacting a tradition dating back to the late 1890s, makes the annual trip in conjunction with annual fall buoy retrieval operations. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Seaman Robert Butler

The journey and ceremony honors the traditions of the Rouse Simmons, the original Christmas Ship, which sank between Kewaunee and Two Rivers, Wis. on Nov. 23, 1912 in a storm during its annual transit from northern Wisconsin to Chicago.

The trip coincides with the Mackinaw’s annual seasonal buoy operations in southern Lake Michigan in support of Operation Fall Retrieve, the nation’s largest domestic aids to navigation recovery operation.

During the transit to Chicago, the crew of the Mackinaw will conduct a wreath laying ceremony near the wreck of the Rouse Simmons to honor the ship and its crew.

 “The crew and I are looking forward in participating in this year’s event. We feel it’s an extremely worthwhile cause.” commented Cmdr. Michael Davanzo, the ship’s commanding officer.