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This is that kind of special event. This is where people make a difference.
This is where a community such as Chicago
comes together with an iconic symbol such as a Christmas Tree
and brought by a Coast Guard cutter to this wonderful
city. That partnership that you see on this emblem right here
is really what this is all about. We are honored to be part of this
we are privileged to be given this opportunity
and I just want to say to the city of Chicago and to everybody
involved in the maritime community as well as everybody involved with the
Christmas Tree ship committee and all of the other organizations that
make this happen. As the senior officer in the Great Lakes in the Coast Guard
I am humble to be here and I thank you for your generous hospitality
and as long as we can we will always support this wonderful effort.
Thank you and God bless you and Merry Christmas all.
The very beginning we were fortunate to have many strong partners.
We've gained a number along the way, but all the time
our most important partner has been the United States Coast Guard and the
Coast Guard Auxiliary.
The marine community
worries about the people who live inland who are having problems
and some of them need rescuing too. So it was right down the Coast Guard's
line to help us bring these trees. You know there are thirteen
hundred trees on that ship there. That's a lot of people
that are going to have Christmas this year that weren't going to have Christmas
Being part of the Christmas Tree ship here in Chicago is
truly an honor for the Coast Guard. We get to
use our cutter, in this case the Mackinaw, who is already down here doing
work as it is on its aids to navigation run. They are able to bring
this year 1300 Christmas Trees that are given out
by charities to families here in the Chicago area. It is just a wonderful opportunity
to show the rich tradition it is in the maritime city
here that is Chicago. This is the hundredth anniversary this year
of the Rouse Simmons sinking, one of the original Christmas Tree ships. So
this is a special for us to be able to be here. To be part of this
To be one of the groups that is responsible for bring joy
to the men and women in the Chicago area.
I also want to say the partnership with all the different agencies
and organizations that help make this happen is one of the examples of how this is
so special. And that partnership that happens has been going on here
with the Coast Guard now for thirteen years, since the old Mack did this back in
2000. So this is a great privilege for us to be here.