CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A ceremony was held Saturday celebrating the 24th voyage of the Chicago Christmas Tree Ship.
The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, also known as the Christmas Tree Ship, brought more than 1,200 trees that will be distributed to the less fortunate.
Rear Admiral John Hickey, the Coast Guard Commander for the Great Lakes, paid tribute to the original Christmas Tree Ship, the Rouse Simmons, and Captain Herman Schuenemann.
"Thousands of Chicagoans treasure their childhood memories of the Christmas ship sailing into the pier loaded with Christmas trees," he said.
The Rouse Simmons went down in a storm off Two Rivers, Wisconsin in 1912. It was loaded with more than 5,000 trees and was sailing to Chicago. All hands were lost.
For 24 years, the Coast Guard has carried on this maritime tradition with the Chicago Christmas Tree Ship Committee.
Maritime balladeer Lee Murdock sang about the Christmas Tree Ship with the Coast Cutter Mackinaw as a backdrop.
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