(Minghui.org) On November 11, Falun Gong practitioners from New York participated in the annual Veterans Day parade on Fifth Avenue, from 29th Street to 52th Street.

Falun Gong practitioners take part in the New York Veterans Day parade

The Divine Land Marching Band

About 200 groups performed in this year's Veterans Days parade. The Falun Gong contingent was the last one in the parade. It consisted of the Divine Land Marching Band, a celestial maiden dance team, an exercise demonstration group and a waist drum team. The practitioners' performances were warmly welcomed by the spectators along the length of the parade route.

Phyllis from Bronx follows along with the exercise demonstration

One of the spectators, Phyllis from Bronx, told a reporter that she enjoyed the Falun Gong contingent very much. “The music is beautiful and the exercises are peaceful,” she said. “I would like to learn more about them. I also want to learn the exercises.”

Jazzy from Manhattan liked the colorful costumes of the practitioners dressed a celestial maidens. “I want to join them,” she laughed.

When practitioners passed by the reviewing stage, Marleen Levi from the United War Veterans Council, the organizer of the parade, introduced Falun Gong to the public: “Falun Gong practitioners are old friends of veterans. They pass on the information of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Let's welcome them!”

Yi Rong, the contact person for the Falun Gong contingent, said that through the parade, practitioners try to bring people the beauty of Falun Gong.

MY9 TV station broadcast the parade live from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.. Viewers in Baltimore, Washington D.C., Orlando, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, and Los Angeles can watch it on MyNetwork TV station or on the website www.vetsday.org.