Thousands watch fireworks at Joint Forces Training Base

Cal Guard base hosts community’s 35th Annual Fireworks Spectacular

Red and blue fireworks burst in sky.

Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman
California National Guard Public Affairs

July 6, 2022

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – More than 6,000 people flocked to the tarmac of Los Alamitos Army Airfield on Cal Guard's Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, Monday night for the 35th Annual 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular hosted by the base and held in partnership between the neighboring cities of Los Alamitos and Seal Beach.

“This is a great event," said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Michael Leeney, commander of the California Army National Guard's 40th Infantry Division, which is headquartered on the base. "It’s been going on for decades now."

“We're very happy to support the city of Los Alamitos and the whole community in hosting the fireworks spectacular," he said.

As the lone military airfield in Orange County, the base provides a unique location for a community celebration, Los Alamitos Mayor Shelley Hasselbrink told the crowd.

“There’s not too many people that can experience watching fireworks on the fourth of July on an active military base where we train and deploy thousands of Soldiers every year to go around the world to keep this world safe," Hasselbrink said. "This is a pretty awesome experience.”

“There’s not too many people that can experience watching fireworks on the fourth of July on an active military base where we train and deploy thousands of Soldiers every year.”
– Shelley Hasselbrink

The 40th Infantry Division's concert band and rock bands capped off their annual training by providing musical entertainment for the event.

California Army National Guard's 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment, which is stationed on the base, displayed one of its UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and Soldiers helped event-goers get in and out of the helicopter for a look inside.

California State Guard's Military Museums Command offered a hands-on display of military artifacts including uniforms and weapons while the Maritime Component offered a look at its waterborne search and rescue equipment.

This year marked a return to the event's pre-pandemic format with the airfield's tarmac turned into an open seating area for picnic blankets and camp chairs. In 2020 and 2021 the event used a drive-up format filling the tarmac with cars and maintaining limited common areas to allow for social distancing as a COVID-19 safety precaution.

Leeney said the installation carried forward lessons learned from two years of the drive-up format to streamline parking for this year's event. He looks forward to hosting the event in years to come.

"We’ll continue to support the celebration of our nation’s birthday with the local communities as long as we can," Leeney said. "We hope everyone has a good time here and they come back next year."

People sit in helicopter.

A woman sits in the cockpit of a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter from Cal Guard's 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment, July 4, during the 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos.

A woman sits in the cockpit of a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter from Cal Guard's 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment, July 4, during the 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos.

Soldier shows historic items.

California State Guard Sgt. Grafton talks about military artifacts at the Military Museums Command display booth during the event.

California State Guard Sgt. Grafton talks about military artifacts at the Military Museums Command display booth during the event.

Sailors move rescue boat.

California State Guard Maritime Component Sailors move a dummy on a rescue board at their waterborne search and rescue display.

California State Guard Maritime Component Sailors move a dummy on a rescue board at their waterborne search and rescue display.

Band on stage.

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Chris Fossmo leads the 40th Infantry Division's concert band in the Armed Forces Medley.

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Chris Fossmo leads the 40th Infantry Division's concert band in the Armed Forces Medley.

Soldiers present flags.

Members of the California State Guard Joint Services Color Guard present the colors during the national anthem.

Members of the California State Guard Joint Services Color Guard present the colors during the national anthem.

City officials on stage.

Shelley Hasselbrink, mayor of Los Alamitos, introduces other city officials while speaking to the crowd.

Shelley Hasselbrink, mayor of Los Alamitos, introduces other city officials while speaking to the crowd.

Crowd on tarmac.

Thousands of people wait on the tarmac for the fireworks show to begin as the sun begins to set.

Thousands of people wait on the tarmac for the fireworks show to begin as the sun begins to set.

Woman sings on stage.

U.S. Army Spc. Angel Demelis sings with the 40th Infantry Division's rock band called "The Guard Experience."

U.S. Army Spc. Angel Demelis sings with the 40th Infantry Division's rock band called "The Guard Experience."

White and green fireworks explode.

A burst of white and green fireworks shoot into the sky during the event's fireworks show.

A burst of white and green fireworks shoot into the sky during the event's fireworks show.