(Clearwisdom.net) On the morning of June 26, 2004, the annual Ballwin Day Parade was held in downtown Ballwin, Missouri, a town of thirty-one thousand people southwest of St. Louis. This was the first time Falun Gong practitioners participated in the parade, but their float won the best float award and became the focus of attention.

Best float plaque

Falun Gong's well-decorated float

Children learn how to make paper lotus flowers

Falun Gong parade procession

People learn about Falun Gong at the Falun Gong booth

The beautiful fan dance with three Falun Gong practitioners won high praise. Young Falun Gong practitioners on the float and children in the audience waved at each other. It was such a joyous atmosphere! People were happy to receive truth-clarification materials. Children loved the Falun Gong bookmarks they got. People along the parade route and at the Falun Gong booth said, "Beautiful!" "You are wonderful!" "Thank you!"

Many people came to the Falun Gong booth after the parade to learn more about Falun Gong. They were shocked to learn of the brutal persecution. Some of them learned the Falun Gong exercises on the spot. Many more asked for group exercise site information. Many people, especially children, came to learn how to make paper lotus flowers. A warm-hearted person came to tell Falun Gong practitioners that their float won the best float award.

The organizer of the Ballwin Day activity delivered the award plaque to the Falun Gong booth in person in the afternoon. She had read Falun Gong truth-clarification materials. She said, "We hope you will be back next year!"