(Clearwisdom.net) Recently, the Chinese American Association of Washington DC honored local Falun Gong practitioners during its monthly meeting in March for their contribution to the Chinese community. The chairman of the association Mr. Huang Haoyuan presented a plaque to a Falun Gong representative, which was engraved with the words, "Earnestly Serving the Community". This was to recognize the Falun Gong practitioners' years of participating in and volunteering for service in community activities. Professor Nie Sen of Catholic University represented the Falun Gong group to accept the award.

The American Chinese Association is one of thirty some Chinese associations of America. It has a strong influence in the DC area and is comprised of 29 community groups. For many years, it has organized most of the activities related to Chinese culture and community, such as the Chinese New Year Parade and the recent Tsunami Fund Raising.

Mr. Huang Haoyuan said that for many years, Falun Gong practitioners in the DC area had volunteered for public service to the community. The Association appreciated the contribution and thus awarded this plaque to recognize Falun Gong's contribution.

Professor Nie said that Falun Gong practitioners in the DC area not only volunteered to serve the community, but also actively participated in many activities such as the Chinese New Year Parade, dragon boat race, etc. Falun Gong's Dragon Dance and Celestial Maiden Dance have become well-known in Chinese community.

Besides the activities in the Chinese community, he added, Falun Gong also has participated in many activities of western culture such as the Independence Day Parade, Sakura Festival Parade, and St. Patrick's Day Parade. Many people have seen Falun Gong's Dragon Dance, Celestial Maiden Dance, and Exercise Demonstration teams. For many of these major large-scale parades, Falun Gong is the only group representing the Chinese community.

Nie said, "Our participation in these large events has raised the social status of the Chinese people, and also introduced Chinese culture to western society. Many Americans began to have interest in Chinese culture due to Falun Gong's art exhibitions, New Year celebrations, as well as through the Dragon Dance, Celestial Maiden Dance and Falun Gong exercises demonstrations."

He said that after years of participating in community service and clarifying the truth, Falun Gong is now well accepted by the Chinese community. People have learned what Falun Gong practitioners are like and how cruel the persecution in China is. Falun Gong's uncompromising courage has won respect from the Chinese community.

Falun Gong practitioner and accountant Ms. Ge also participated in the award ceremony. She said, "The change of people's attitude toward Falun Gong in the Washington DC Chinese community reflects a similar change in the world. This change continues to develop. When the truth is spread to more and more people, the balance between justice and evil will favor justice more."