DEARBORN HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN — A Detroit suburb concerned about a delayed delivery of an artificial Christmas tree from China instead received the real one — a towering Norway spruce — just in time for a community tree lighting celebration.
The 40-foot (12-meter) tree was planted Monday at City Hall in Dearborn Heights, thanks to the Michigan farm that planted it and a local American Muslim business owner who helped pay $10,000 in expenses. WXYZ-TV reported.
“They were actually short of time, and this is our way of giving back,” Sam Hussein said.
Mo Beydoun, the new mayor, who is also Muslim, said the Christmas tree is a sign of unity at a time when there is so much “hate.” In recent weeks, there was a small but controversial anti-Islam demonstration in nearby Dearborn. Southeast Michigan has one of the largest concentrations of Arab Americans in the United States.
“We will continue to work, love and show respect for all faiths and religions,” Baydoun said.
He said the city had ordered a “fake tree from China” that would not arrive until Thursday, too late to have one installed before Friday’s tree lighting event. City employees went to Huff’s Tree Farm in Highland, desperate for a cure.
If nature cooperates, the tree can last a long time.
“It’s one of the nicest ones we have on the farm,” Nicholas Huff said.