<p>Christmas Ship: A Frigid Journey That Warms The Heart
Local Coast Guard officer candidates help bring cheer to the needy of Chicago</p>
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<p>John Masson
Officer Candidate Megan Clifford from the Officer Candidate School in New London loading Christmas trees aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw for distribution to the needy families in Chicago earlier this month. </p>
<p>The U.S. Coast Guard cutter/icebreaker Mackinaw in Chicago. The ship, commissioned in 1944, is also known as the Christmas Ship when it is used to deliver Christmas trees to needy families in Chicago. This year's journey was the last for the Mackinaw, which will be retired as a maritime museum in Cheboygan, Michigan. </p>
<p>This was definitely worth it. The port was beautiful as we pulled in, and we were so well received. We won't forget it.
Kristin Page, of the U.S. Coast Guard Orricer Candidate School in New London, who took part in the distribution of Christmas trees to needy families in Chicago from aboard the cutter/icebreaker Mackniaw.</p>
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<p>By ANTHONY CRONIN
Day Staff Writer, Business
Published on 12/25/2005</p>
<p>It began more than 100 years ago as a gesture of Christmas kindness. The Christmas Ship would bring fresh-cut Christmas trees from northern Michigan to the needy of Chicago.</p>
<p>After a lapse of many years, the tradition of the Christmas Ship returned several years ago, and 17 officer candidates from the Officer Candidate School at the Coast Guard Academy in New London helped to make this year's journey a special one for the ship, which has been retired by the Coast Guard, and for those Chicago families in need of some Christmas cheer.</p>
<p>In early December, the 17 traveled to Michigan to ride aboard the fabled Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, the world's largest ice breaker, to bring thousands of trees to the needy, principally in Chicago, but also at several stops along the way from the ship's homeport in the small Michigan town of Cheboygan.</p>
<p>The journey was an unforgettable one for two officer candidates from New London, Megan Clifford and Kristin Page. </p>
<p>We offloaded every one of those trees, said Clifford of the officer candidates' and crew's efforts to bring the freshly cut northern pines from Michigan's pristine northern woods to Chicago. And it was really cold, but we didn't mind.</p>
<p>The Christmas Ship journey ended at the Navy Pier in Chicago now a sprawling entertainment and retail complex on Friday, Dec. 2. In keeping with the holiday spirit, the massive cutter was outfitted with Christmas lights by its crews and adorned with Christmas trees as it arrived in Chicago. </p>
<p>All of the families were so appreciative, said Page.</p>
<p>Both Clifford and Page are active-duty Coast Guard enlisted personnel who are part of a 36-member class at the Officer Candidate School that will graduate in March. The school offers an intensive 17-week program for enlisted Coast Guard personnel and civilians. It is a very competitive program that accepts only a small amount of the applicants. When the officer candidates graduate, they will hold the officer rank of ensign in the U.S. Coast Guard.</p>
<p>Even though the 17 officer candidates face intensive days that begin at 5 a.m. and often last until lights out at 10 p.m., they were eager to help out in this year's Christmas Ship journey.</p>
<p>Lt. Tammy Michelli, a platoon officer with the Officer Candidate School, said she was very proud of the officer candidates who made the journey, which included an hours-long plane ride, a six-hour bus ride and an overnight transit aboard the Mackinaw enduring freezing temperatures, ice and winds to bring the trees to Chicago.</p>
<p>The Christmas Ship tradition lagged for many years but was restored five years ago at the urging of Coast Guard Capt. Jonathan Nickerson, who now serves as the deputy director of the Coast Guard Leadership Center in New London.</p>
<p>Nickerson, a Stonington resident, was the captain of the Mackinaw for three years. The ship, he said, is an institution in Michigan. </p>
<p>Nickerson said he found many willing to help restore the Christmas Ship tradition in 2000, ranging from police and emergency personnel to local VFW and American Legion posts eager to help those during the Christmas season.</p>
<p>Today, the Chicago Christmas Ship project is organized by the Unified Marine Community of Chicago in cooperation with the Coast Guard. The event attracts plenty of media attention, and this year's journey was featured on Storm Stories, a popular show on the Weather Channel on cable television.</p>
<p>Nickerson remembers well the first journey in 2000 aboard his Mighty Mac as it brought hundreds of fresh-cut trees to Chicago. He and his crew made three Christmastime journeys while he served as the 290-foot cutter's commanding officer. </p>
<p>Nickerson said he and his crew were moved each year by the gratitude of those receiving the trees and by the overwhelming generosity of the Coast Guard crews and civilians willing to volunteer. </p>
<p>Actually seeing these families that receive the trees and the smiles on all of their faces it was hard not to feel good about it, he said. Many of these families had not seen a Christmas tree in their home for years. You can't beat that personal sense of happiness.</p>
<p>Michelli, who made the frigid journey with her 17 officer candidates, said the experience is an unforgettable one. This year's journey was even more memorable because it was the final journey for the Christmas Ship.</p>
<p>The Mackinaw will retire after an impressive 60-year tour of duty on the Great Lakes. During those decades, the cutter/ice breaker that was in 1944 ensured that shipping lanes remained open so commerce could move freely, despite Michigan's well-known Arctic blasts. </p>
<p>The world's most powerful icebreaker, which is being replaced by a new cutter named what else, the Mackinaw will retire to Cheboygan, where she will rest as a historically designated maritime museum.</p>
<p>And for officer candidates Clifford and Page, it was a proud moment to serve albeit briefly aboard the Mighty Mac for its final voyage on behalf of the needy of Chicago.</p>
<p>This was definitely worth it, said Page. The port was beautiful as we pulled in, and we were so well received. </p>
<p>We won't forget it.</p>