(Clearwisdom.net) On July 5, 2004, Falun Gong practitioners from the New England area participated in the Bristol's 219th Fourth of July Parade in Rhode Island, which is the oldest parade in the country.
The parade fell on Monday, July 5, this year. Though many people had to go to work and were unable to attend, the parade was just as grand as in previous years, lasting for nearly three hours. Even though it rained heavily, most spectators still remained and watched enthusiastically in tents or under umbrellas. Cheers and applause accompanied the parade.
  The three practitioners holding a banner reading, "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance" lead the Falun Gong contingent |
  Exercise demonstration on the float |
  Waist Drum performance |
  Dance of heavenly maidens |
The Falun Gong contingent was composed of a float, Fan Dance, Heavenly Maiden Dance, Flag Dance, Waist Drum Team and banners. This was the third time that Falun Gong practitioners participated in the parade. In the rain, six young Dafa practitioners were sitting on three big lotus flowers on the float, the youngest of them only three years old. Two practitioners who performed the Flag Dance danced with the flags soaked by the rain. Fans for Fan Dance also had to be changed frequently. The practitioners' clothing was drenched and the rain kept running down their faces, but the heartening sound of drums remained the same. The song "Falun Dafa is Great" was still loud and clear, delivering blessings to all the people.
The introduction of Falun Gong and "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance" could be heard from the main stage. Spectators were applauding, cheers were unceasing, and Dafa practitioners' elegant demeanor was not affected by the rain.
