Coast Guard Carries Michigan Christmas Trees to Chicago to Honor 1912 Shipwreck

Chicago families in need of a big, beautiful spruce to spruce up their holiday spirit and decor will receive a Northern Michigan Christmas tree next week.

The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw loaded up about 1,200 trees from Dutchman Tree Farm in Manton and Thompson Township in the Upper Peninsula on Tuesday, Nov. 26, UpNorthLive reports. The cutter will leave its home port of Cheboygan for Chicago after Thanksgiving, arriving for a tree ceremony and distribution on Thursday, Dec. 5.

2019 marks the 20th anniversary of modern “Christmas Tree Ship.” The tradition is meant to spread holiday cheer and honors the original Christmas tree ship, the Schooner Rouse Simmons, that sank during a tree trip in 1912.

Read more at MLive

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