(Minghui.org) Thousands of people lined the route for the Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade, the largest Independence Day parade in the western United States. The Tian Guo Marching Band, one of the 232 entries in the parade, received the John Philip Sousa Award in recognition of its excellent music and outstanding contribution.
Falun Dafa practitioners were invited to participate in the Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade. The Tian Guo Marching Band received the John Philip Sousa Award.
To celebrate the country’s 249th Independence Day, Huntington Beach held its 121st 4th of July Parade. Falun Dafa practitioners made up the largest group in the parade. Led by the Tian Guo Marching Band, their entry included a float decorated in red, white, and blue with a practitioner dressed as a heavenly maiden followed by a contingent of practitioners demonstrating the exercises.
Spectators were impressed by the Tian Guo Marching Band.
People enjoyed the practitioners’ float and exercise demonstration.
State Representative: Freedom of Belief
Tri Ta, a member of the California House of Representatives, came to the U.S. to live in freedom, which he said is important to everyone.
California state representative Tri Ta
Because he understands communism, Ta said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is pushing its agenda overseas. This includes infiltration inside the U.S. and undermining freedom of belief and freedom of speech.
That is why Ta praised Falun Dafa practitioners for their consistent efforts all these years to share the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in their communities while also exposing what is going on in China. He said he respects practitioners because they are good and responsible people, so he is willing to stand with them and protect their freedom, as well as celebrate Independence Day.
Applauding the Band
After the parade started at 10 a.m., spectators along the route praised the Tian Guo Marching Band for the songs they played, including “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “Falun Dafa Is Good,” and “Triumphant Return.”
As the band approached the stage, the host from ABC7 announced that Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is a peaceful meditation practice guided by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and that it has benefited about 100 million practitioners in over 100 countries.
Bazert, who was seeing the parade for the first time, said the Tian Guo Marching Band was “awesome.” He videotaped the performance because the melodies were so extraordinary.
Angela Tassone said she thought every single band member was “great. We are proud of such a performance in this parade,” she added.
Angela Tassone and her friend Erin Clark said they like practitioners’ performances.
Erin Clark said she was excited to see Falun Dafa practitioners in the parade every year because, “We need kindness in our communities.”
Cammy Ciarelli was curious about Falun Dafa so she looked it up on her phone. “I like the teachings and what it says about meditation and mind and body improvement. I want to be part of the practice,” she said.
Shared Values
Abraham Thompson, drum major of the U.S. Western Tian Guo Marching Band, said the band has participated in over 100 parades since its inception in 2007. From different backgrounds and of different ages, the band members all embrace Falun Dafa’s teachings of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Abraham Thompson, drum major of the U.S. Western Tian Guo Marching Band
He said that, for some of the band members who were persecuted by the CCP in China, participating in a 4th of July parade is especially meaninful. “We are happy to live in a free country. Not everyone in this world has such freedom, so we cherish what we have here.”
According to Minghui statistics, Falun Dafa has been honored with over 13,000 proclamations and letters of support from various governments over the years. This May, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Falun Gong Protection Act, which calls for sanctions against the CCP for the crime of organ harvesting. The bill is pending Senate approval.
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