(Clearwisdom.net) Falun Gong practitioners participated in the Independence Day Parade as the only Asian American group on Independence Parkway in Plano, Texas, on July 4, 2011. Their precise and graceful procession, including the Divine Land Marching Band and a float, became the focus of attention at the parade. The band won the award for “Best Music” in the parade.

Plano has the highest ratio of Asian Americans in north Texas, and it is a truly multicultural city. The Independence Day Parade attracts a large number of spectators every year. To share the beauty of Falun Gong with the community, local practitioners have participated in this parade several times.

The Divine Land Marching Band of Texas is made up of Falun Gong practitioners from Houston, Dallas, and Austin. Dressed in blue shirts, white pants, and blue hats, band members played Falun Dafa music throughout the parade. Spectators rewarded them with warm applause and praise, “You are the best!”

Wherever the band passed, enthusiastic spectators waved their flags, gave them the “thumbs-up,” danced to the music, and took pictures.

A beautiful float decorated with lotus flowers and in red, white, and blue followed the band. Several practitioners demonstrated the five Falun Gong exercises on the float.

Plano resident Mr. Bland was fascinated by the beautiful exercises, which made him feel very peaceful. He used the information on the flyer to contact practitioners after the parade. He said, “They sit there so calmly. It was fascinating to me and touched my heart.” He followed the practitioners' introduction, visited the Falun Dafa website, and wanted to learn the practice.