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.

The 2013 Ice-Breaking Season Is Lasting Longer Than Usual.

The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw breaks ice for the motor vessel Manitowoc during an escort through the upper St. Mary's River, April 3, 2013.
The 2013 ice-breaking season is lasting longer than usual due to higher-than-average snowfall across the northern Great Lakes.   Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Nate Poppink

The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw breaks a relief tract for the motor vessel Paul R. Tregurtha in Whitefish Bay, April 3, 2013.
The 2013 ice-breaking season is lasting longer than usual due to higher-than-average snowfall across the northern Great Lakes.   Coast Guard photo by Lt. Stephen Elliott


The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw enters into a field of frozen pancake ice in Whitefish Bay, April 3, 2013.
The 2013 ice-breaking season is lasting longer than usual due to higher-than-average snowfall across the northern Great Lakes.   Coast Guard photo by Lt. Stephen Elliott

The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw breaks thick ice in Whitefish Bay, April 3, 2013.
The 2013 ice-breaking season is lasting longer than usual due to higher-than-average snowfall across the northern Great Lakes.   Coast Guard photo by Lt. Stephen Elliott

Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw Assists Lakers Stuck In Ice

The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, a 240-foot icebreaker homeported in Cheboygan, Mich., works to free the motor vessel James R. Barker in the vicinity of the Johnson Point Turn in the lower St. Marys River, March 26, 2013.
The Mackinaw was breaking brash ice built up on the Barker's starboard side to give the ship's stern room to swing.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony Eichelberger


The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, a 240-foot icebreaker homeported in Cheboygan, Mich., creates a track through the ice for the motor vessel James R. Barker in the vicinity of the Johnson Point Turn in the lower St. Marys River, March 26, 2013.
The Mackinaw and other Coast Guard cutters worked throughout the winter to keep shipping lanes open across the Great Lakes during Operation Taconite and Operation Coal Shovel.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony Eichelberger


The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, a 240-foot icebreaker homeported in Cheboygan, Mich., uses prop wash from its directional azipods to break an ice plug blocking the motor vessel Manitowoc in the vicinity of Whitefish Bay, March 26, 2013.
The Mackinaw along with CGC Alder, a 225-foot buoy tender with ice-breaking capabilities homeported in Duluth, Minn., and the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley worked together to get the Manitowoc moving again.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Brown


The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, a 240-foot icebreaker homeported in Cheboygan, Mich., works joint operations with the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley to free the motor vessel Manitowoc from an ice plug in the vicinity of Whitefish Bay, March 26, 2013.
The Mackinaw, CCGS Samuel Risley and CGC Alder, a 225-foot buoy tender with ice-breaking capabilities homeported in Duluth, Minn., worked together to get the Manitowoc moving again.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Brown

Mackinaw arrives in Chicago with 1,300 Christmas trees.

CHICAGO — The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, serving as this year’s Christmas Ship, arrives at Navy Pier carrying 1,300 Christmas from northern Michigan for deserving families in the Chicago area, Nov. 30, 2012.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the original Christmas Ship, the Rouse Simmons, off of Two Rivers, Wis., during a winter storm.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Alan Haraf






CHICAGO — Petty Officer 1st Class Steve Brown (left) and Petty Officer 2nd Class Zach Emery, of the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, arrange one of the 1,300 Christmas trees brought to Chicago for distribution to deserving families, Nov. 30, 2012.

The Mackinaw is serving as this year’s Christmas Ship on the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Rouse Simmons, the original Christmas Ship, off of Two Rivers, Wis.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Alan Haraf

CHICAGO — Seaman Miles Beck (left) and Petty Officer 2nd Class Zack Emery of the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, arrange one of the 1,300 Christmas trees brought to Chicago for distribution to deserving families, Nov. 30, 2012.

The Mackinaw is serving as this year’s Christmas Ship on the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Rouse Simmons, the original Christmas Ship, off of Two Rivers, Wis.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Alan Haraf

CHICAGO — A mountain of Christmas trees, for distribution to deserving families in the Chicago area, takes shape on the deck on the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, Nov. 30, 2012.

The Mackinaw is serving as this year’s Christmas Ship on the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Rouse Simmons, the original Christmas Ship, off of Two Rivers, Wis.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Alan Haraf