(June 30, 2003) -- LB's July 4th patriotic fireworks display at Veterans Stadium will include items made in the U.S.A...and imported from the People's Republic of China, France, Germany, Japan and elsewhere.

The ELB fireworks event, held by the LB Firefighters Memorial Association (a not for profit charitable group comprised of LB firefighters), is produced by the nationally renowned firm of Pyro Spectaculars by Souza, which handles major fireworks displays locally and across the country.

Pyro Spectaculars, based in nearby Rialto (west of San Bernardino), produces world class fireworks seen at the Queen Mary, Knotts...and venues including the awesome Macy's NY City display launched from barges floating off Manhattan. The company also produced the fireworks seen at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics Opening & Closing Ceremonies, 1996 Atlanta Olympics Opening & Closing Ceremonies, Summer Nights at the Hollywood Bowl and more.

The firm's sales manager, Jeff Martin told LBReport.com the company will be doing roughly 550 shows on July 4th. Pyro Spectaculars basically brings everything -- mortars, license, insurance -- and produces the show.

Mr. Martin said certain countries excel in certain types of fireworks. "We buy fireworks from 24 different countries, and Long Beach viewers will see the world on display in the sky," he said.

Mr. Martin acknowledged some fireworks were imported from the Peoples Republic of China...and some from France...as to the latter, quickly adding with a chuckle, "That was before Iraq."

Mr. Martin said he was unaware of any 4th of July displays featuring fireworks made only in the U.S.A. He didn't say it would be impossible to do such a program...but did opine it would be considerably more expensive.

His off-the-cuff, rough estimate: perhaps ten times as much to do an all-American made fireworks show...reflecting higher labor and other manufacturing costs in the U.S.A.