Seabees Spread Holiday Cheer From Treetops

These elite, specially trained construction workers built hospitals in Somalia and mess halls in the Middle East, but on Monday, Navy Seabees used their prowess to scale the San Buenaventura Mission’s towering pine trees and hang hundreds of feet of Christmas lights.

The two century-old pine trees, standing in front of the mission, are about 130 feet tall. The city has traditionally hung Christmas lights on the trees, but last year, due to budget problems and a lack of skilled climbers, the twin pines went bare for the Christmas season.

So this year, Msgr. Patrick O’Brien called up the Navy chaplain at Port Hueneme and asked the Seabees, who are trained as electricians and pole-climbers at the Naval Construction Training Center, to lend a hand.

Eight men in fatigues and combat boots, plus a special truck, turned out to drape eight strings of 80-foot ropes of red, yellow and blue lights over the trees.

Two climbers--Chiefs Thomas Cyr and Nelson Salanga--rode the truck’s arm extension about 50 feet, about halfway up the tree. From there they climbed into the branches, and clambered up the trunk, dragging the lights behind them.

They even ate their lunch in the trees--sandwiches sent up on the truck. O’Brien said he was thrilled by the gift and the community gesture.

Other Venturans, too, noticed the Seabees in the trees, and were delighted.

“I was born and raised here, and every year--I know from being here--the city used to do it,” said Mike McLean, president of Holy Cross School’s Parent Teacher Organization.

“I’m happier than heck they’re going to the top. I missed those lights.”