Missouri, U.S.A.: Lotus Flowers in the Webster Groves Independence Day Parade (Photos)
(Clearwisdom.net) On July 4, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners from St. Louis, Missouri once again participated in the Webster Groves Independence Day Parade.
  Falun Gong procession |
  Falun Gong procession |
When the practitioners applied to participate in the parade, the application deadline had already passed. But because of the practitioners' impressive performance last year, a special exception was made for the Falun Gong group. At the time of a preparatory meeting with the parade organizers, all the practitioners were at the Chicago Experience Sharing Conference. In order to support Falun Gong, a practitioner's husband (who doesn't practice Falun Gong) volunteered to attend the meeting and represent the group.
On the morning of July 4th, when the practitioners were decorating the float, people from other groups and the parade organizers came by and wanted to know more about Falun Gong. They wanted to know what Falun Gong is and they asked about the persecution of Falun Gong in China. When they left, they took many truth-clarification flyers. Some said that they would come to the practice site to learn the exercises.
  Exercise demonstration |
  Falun Gong procession |
The parade started. In the Falun Gong procession, four women practitioners dressed in beautiful orange, yellow, green and pink Tang Dynasty costumes presented the spectators with a graceful elegance. Along the parade route, people applauded and cheered when the Falun Gong procession passed by. Comments such as, "So beautiful!" "I like it!" "Pretty float!" "I like that music!" or "Great! Falun Gong!" were heard. Falun Gong is no longer a stranger to many of the spectators and they greeted the practitioners as friends. Some children pressed their hands together in greeting.
Distributing truth-clarification flyers
People took flyers and asked questions about Falun Gong. 1,200 flyers ran out quickly, before the parade was even halfway finished. The practitioners felt regret for the spectators who didn't have the chance to read the truth-clarification materials, but they explained the facts to them briefly.
The parade finished successfully. The practitioners were very happy that they brought a special gift, the beauty of Falun Dafa and the truth of the persecution in China, to the people at the Independence Day parade.