| Cutter Mackinaw In the spring of 1944 a legend came to be from the city of Cheyboygan a Mighty Warrior was set free Two hundred ninety feet in length and seventy five feet wide The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw would sail the lakes with pride Her mission was to blaze the trail where brave men dare to go To guarantee safe passage through the wind the ice and snow To rescue frozen freighters that lay deep within the ice You may doubt that she can get there but you'll never doubt her twice The guardian of the Great lakes in the land of northern sun Through sixty years of service yes her battle has been won She fought her way through solid ice through winters cold and raw The pride of northern waters she's the Cutter Mackinaw Long before the robins fly to let us know its spring Long before we see the ships and cargo that they bring The guardian of the great lakes raised its anchor rand its bell And once again the Mighty mac would do what she do well When the season starts up at the locks the first ship passes through Reported there as number one their really number two Before the traffic could commence and lock through on that day The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw came through and cleared the way The guardian of the Great lakes, in the land of northern sun Through sixty years of service yes her battle has been won She fought her way through solid ice, through winters cold and raw The pride of northern waters she's the Cutter Mackinaw To freighters manned by brave crews who lay frozen in their tracks And scanned the far horizon for the sign of smoking stacks To hear the distant thunder as their hearts are filled with awe When all at once a voice rings out "Thank God the Mackinaw" There is no greater honor thn the love of those you serve We give our admiration our respect she does deserve She's served a grateful nation she has been the eagles claw Let all hands now salute her she's the Mighty Mackinaw The guardian of the Great lakes, in the land of northern sun Through sixty years of service yes her battle has been won She fought her way through solid ice, through winters cold and raw The pride of northern waters she's the Cutter Mackinaw Let all hands now salute her she's the Cutter Mackinaw Written by Thomas Maleport for the decommissioning service held in Sault Ste Marie Copyright (c) 2005 All Rights Reserved |
