Much like how Santa Claus unloads his sleigh, dozens of Chicagoans and crew members of the “Christmas Tree Ship” offloaded fresh trees from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw at Navy Pier.
Now in its 25th year, the tradition operated like clockwork Saturday morning. Crew on board the ship passed partially frozen trees from Northern Michigan to one another until they reached volunteers, who donned Santa Claus hats and Christmas light necklaces. Carrying trees as tall as some of them, they brought them to U-Haul trucks that will deliver them to charities. Ada S. McKinley Community Services will distribute trees to organizations that will give them to 1,200 families, according to a press release.
Volunteer Katherine Woodard, an ambassador with the Girls Scouts of Northern Illinois who is participating for the third time, likes knowing that she is making an impact, she said.
“It’s really fun and you’re helping somebody,” she said.
Volunteering has an added perk: “I like carrying trees to get buff,” she added.
“When you think about the spirit of giving and you see the mighty Mackinaw here and you think about the history of the ‘Christmas Tree Ship,’ I mean that’s the spirit that this whole day embodies,” said U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Timothy Tilghman.
That history was commemorated Saturday with a wreath ceremony. In November 1912, Capt. Herman Schuenemann of the Rouse Simmons and his crew reportedly went down near Ahnapee, Wisconsin, with trees on board that were supposed to make it to Chicago.
The “Christmas Tree Ship,” which is the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, is docked at Navy Pier before Christmas trees are offloaded on Saturday.
Icicles have formed on some Christmas trees, which are being carried by volunteers from the “Christmas Tree Ship.”
Crew members of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw offload Christmas trees at Navy Pier on Saturday.
Lucy Berry, who volunteered to help carry Christmas trees for the first time, hugs a tree that was delivered by the “Christmas Tree Ship.”
Icicles have formed on some Christmas trees, which are being carried by volunteers from the “Christmas Tree Ship.”
A member of Lincoln Way Air Force JROTC Cadets participates in the presentation of colors during a ceremony Saturday at Navy Pier. They commemorated the original “Christmas Tree Ship,” the Rouse Simmons, which sank in 1912.
Father Mike Enright with St. Paul’s Catholic Church presides over a wreath ceremony Saturday at Navy Pier. They commemorated the original “Christmas Tree Ship,” the Rouse Simmons, which sank in 1912.
A Chicago Fire Department helicopter hovers over Navy Pier on Saturday during a memorial wreath drop-off ceremony to commemorate the original “Christmas Tree Ship,” the Rouse Simmons, which sank in 1912.
A Chicago Fire Department helicopter hovers over Navy Pier on Saturday during a memorial wreath drop-off ceremony to commemorate the original “Christmas Tree Ship,” the Rouse Simmons, which sank in 1912.
Volunteers carry Christmas trees that were delivered by the “Christmas Tree Ship.”
A person dressed as the Grinch gives a kid a high-five Saturday as volunteers carry Christmas trees that were delivered by the “Christmas Tree Ship” at Navy Pier.
Volunteers carry Christmas trees that were delivered by the “Christmas Tree Ship.”
Volunteers load Christmas trees into a truck Saturday at Navy Pier. The trees will be delivered to different charities that will distribute the trees to Chicago families.
A volunteer laughs while carrying a Christmas tree that was delivered by the “Christmas Tree Ship” at Navy Pier.