Garrison celebrates nation’s independence with drive-in fireworks event

By Lisa BishopJuly 6, 2020

WIESBADEN, Germany - Jane Porto-Turner, advertising and sponsorship manager for MWR, conducts a trivia contest with a young spectator July 4, 2020, at Wiesbaden Army Airfield. MWR hosted a live feed of the event.
1 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – WIESBADEN, Germany - Jane Porto-Turner, advertising and sponsorship manager for MWR, conducts a trivia contest with a young spectator July 4, 2020, at Wiesbaden Army Airfield. MWR hosted a live feed of the event. (Photo Credit: Lisa Bishop) VIEW ORIGINAL
WIESBADEN, Germany - The USO staff utilizes the airfield’s golf carts to distribute 1,000 food and goodie bags to spectators July 4, 2020, at Wiesbaden Army Airfield. Larger bags were given as prizes to the first 75 cars set up with patriotic...
2 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – WIESBADEN, Germany - The USO staff utilizes the airfield’s golf carts to distribute 1,000 food and goodie bags to spectators July 4, 2020, at Wiesbaden Army Airfield. Larger bags were given as prizes to the first 75 cars set up with patriotic decorations. (Photo Credit: Lisa Bishop) VIEW ORIGINAL
WIESBADEN, Germany - While waiting for the fireworks display to commence, children entertain themselves with dolls and toys on a blanket in front of the family vehicle July 4, 2020 at Wiesbaden Army Airfield.
3 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – WIESBADEN, Germany - While waiting for the fireworks display to commence, children entertain themselves with dolls and toys on a blanket in front of the family vehicle July 4, 2020 at Wiesbaden Army Airfield. (Photo Credit: Lisa Bishop) VIEW ORIGINAL
WIESBADEN, Germany - While waiting for the fireworks display to commence, a family enjoyed a car-side picnic, including fresh watermelon July 4, 2020, on Wiesbaden Army Airfield.
4 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – WIESBADEN, Germany - While waiting for the fireworks display to commence, a family enjoyed a car-side picnic, including fresh watermelon July 4, 2020, on Wiesbaden Army Airfield. (Photo Credit: Lisa Bishop) VIEW ORIGINAL
WIESBADEN, Germany - A family arrives early to Wiesbaden Army Airfield to decorate their truck for the Independence Day celebration. They were awarded a USO gift bag for their efforts July 4, 2020.
5 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – WIESBADEN, Germany - A family arrives early to Wiesbaden Army Airfield to decorate their truck for the Independence Day celebration. They were awarded a USO gift bag for their efforts July 4, 2020. (Photo Credit: Lisa Bishop) VIEW ORIGINAL
WIESBADEN, Germany - The Lord Mayor of Mainz, Michael Ebling (right) and his guest wait for the fireworks to begin July 4, 2020, at Wiesbaden Army Airfield. According to Nadine Bower, USAG Wiesbaden community relations specialist, they wanted to...
6 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – WIESBADEN, Germany - The Lord Mayor of Mainz, Michael Ebling (right) and his guest wait for the fireworks to begin July 4, 2020, at Wiesbaden Army Airfield. According to Nadine Bower, USAG Wiesbaden community relations specialist, they wanted to enjoy fireworks too, as most host-nation fireworks have been cancelled this year because of COVID-19 concerns. (Photo Credit: Lisa Bishop) VIEW ORIGINAL
WIESBADEN, Germany - Mark Smith, chief of business operations for MWR, discusses progress of vehicles entering the Wiesbaden Army Airfield with two military police officers July 4, 2020.
7 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – WIESBADEN, Germany - Mark Smith, chief of business operations for MWR, discusses progress of vehicles entering the Wiesbaden Army Airfield with two military police officers July 4, 2020. (Photo Credit: Lisa Bishop) VIEW ORIGINAL
WIESBADEN, Germany - While waiting for the fireworks to commence, a family plays card games in the back of their pickup truck July 4, 2020, at Wiesbaden Army Airfield.
8 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – WIESBADEN, Germany - While waiting for the fireworks to commence, a family plays card games in the back of their pickup truck July 4, 2020, at Wiesbaden Army Airfield. (Photo Credit: Lisa Bishop) VIEW ORIGINAL
WIESBADEN, Germany - While dad sits in the driver's seat of his parked pickup truck, the children wait on the top of the cab for the fireworks to begin at Wiesbaden Army Airfield July 4, 2020.
9 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – WIESBADEN, Germany - While dad sits in the driver's seat of his parked pickup truck, the children wait on the top of the cab for the fireworks to begin at Wiesbaden Army Airfield July 4, 2020. (Photo Credit: Lisa Bishop) VIEW ORIGINAL
WIESBADEN, Germany - Grace Lauer, center operations manager for the USO, distributes food and goodie bags July 4, 2020.
10 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – WIESBADEN, Germany - Grace Lauer, center operations manager for the USO, distributes food and goodie bags July 4, 2020. (Photo Credit: Lisa Bishop) VIEW ORIGINAL
WIESBADEN, Germany - The Wiesbaden Entertainment Center drive-thru served barbeque food, including ribs, bratwurst and burgers to event goers July 4, 2020.
11 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – WIESBADEN, Germany - The Wiesbaden Entertainment Center drive-thru served barbeque food, including ribs, bratwurst and burgers to event goers July 4, 2020. (Photo Credit: Lisa Bishop) VIEW ORIGINAL
WIESBADEN, Germany - A total of 349 vehicles park on the airfield for the drive-in fireworks event July 4, 2020. (Photo provided by Robert Bishop)
12 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – WIESBADEN, Germany - A total of 349 vehicles park on the airfield for the drive-in fireworks event July 4, 2020. (Photo provided by Robert Bishop) (Photo Credit: Lisa Bishop) VIEW ORIGINAL

WIESBADEN, Germany - While most cities in the United States had cancelled their Fourth of July celebrations over COVID-19 concerns, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden hosted a drive-in style fireworks event on the airfield July 4, 2020.

According to Mark Smith, chief of business operations for MWR, 349 vehicles were tallied on the airfield as the 30-minute firework display took place. The display was 10 minutes longer than the normal garrison fireworks.

Included in the audience was the Lord Mayor of Mainz, Michael Ebling. According to Nadine Bower, USAG Wiesbaden community relations specialist, the mayor and his partner wanted to enjoy fireworks too, as most host-nation fireworks have been cancelled this year.

Grace Lauer, center operations manager for the USO, said their organization was happy to give away 1,000 food and goodie bags. The USO staff utilized the airfield’s golf carts to serve the community. In addition, they awarded 75 prize bags to the first 75 cars who set up with patriotic decorations.

Jane Porto-Turner, advertising and sponsorship manager for MWR, hosted a live feed of the event. She conducted trivia contests and also gave away prizes throughout the evening.

Many families opted to stop by the Wiesbaden Entertainment Center for drive-thru barbeque food, including ribs, bratwurst and burgers. While the line was long, event goers had plenty of time for the airfield opening at 8 p.m.

While families waited for the fireworks display to commence, they stayed close to their cars. They enjoyed food, played games and talked at a distance to families in neighboring cars.

Military police patrolled the airfield, enforcing requirements set by the host nation, including social distancing and keeping emergency lanes unobstructed.

AFN broadcast the event and played patriotic music during the fireworks show. The entirety of the fireworks show can be seen on Wiesbaden’s MWR Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WiesbadenArmyMWR/. Additional photographs are available at www.flickr.com/wpao.

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