Get Your War On Today at Los Alamitos or This Weekend at Seal Beach

Maj. Gen. John S. Harrel

​If you can make it there in less than half as hour, you can still catch the 11 a.m. Commanding General Change of Command ceremony at the Joint Forces Training Base, 11200 Lexington Ave., Los Alamitos.

Major General John S. Harrel, commanding general of the California Army National Guard's 40th Infantry Division since August 2007, is transferring command to Brigadier General Scott W. Johnson during what is billed as a "rare and impressive event." Troops, family, veterans, dignitaries and the general public will be there.

Harrel, whose National Guard lieutenant son is currently deployed overseas, is assuming command of the California Army National Guard. ​If the command change does not adequately satisfy your patriotic jones, the guided missile destroyer USS Benfold is open for free visitation this weekend at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station. More information on the destroyer can be found here and here. Other Army, Navy and Marine Corps equipment will also be available for viewing.

The free tours open at 10 a.m. and close at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday. The base is at 800 Seal Beach Boulevard, but no public access is available through the main gate. Instead you must pass through the Liberty Gate, which is on Seal Beach Boulevard an eighth of a mile south of the Pacific Coast Highway intersection.