The "Christmas Ship Mackinaw" Sails Into Chicago

Lee Murdock’s sweet voice rang clearly in the icy air as he entertained the crowd gathered at Chicago’s Navy Pier on a brisk sunny Saturday, the 5th day of December, 2009. Anchored at the pier, just a short distance from the stage, sat the United States Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw.

A large banner on the side of the vessel declared the Mack to be “Chicago’s Christmas Ship.” Following the tradition of the Christmas tree ships of the early 1900’s, theMack was on a mission: to bring Christmas trees to thpeople of Chicago, specifically to those families who could not afford to buy one .