CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Chicago's Christmas Ship arrived this weekend.
The massive U.S. Coast Guard ship Cutter Mackinaw docked at Navy Pier Saturday to offload a cargo full of Christmas trees. The legend of the original Christmas tree ship was honored at the pier with a memorial ceremony.
Commander Timothy Tillman said the spirit of giving is at the core of the more than 100-year-old tradition.
“Once upon a time in 1912, a man, a crew, vessel, they were in the spirit of giving, and unfortunately they ultimately their lives in their existence for that spirit of giving, but the tradition that we are carrying…is something we get to hold dear,” Tillman said.
The 1,200 trees from northern Michigan will be distributed by the nonprofit Ada S. McKinley Community Services to families across Chicago.
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