(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners in the greater Washington D.C. area participated in the Baltimore Christmas parade held on December 4, 2022. On December, 10, Mr. Tom Kerr, chairman of the committee for the parade gave practitioners the first prize trophy for their float.
Practitioners participated in the 49th Baltimore Christmas parade held on December 4, 2022.
The waist drum team performed in the parade.
Practitioners demonstrated the exercises on the float.
Parade chairman Mr. Tom Kerr (third left) and committee member Ms. Sharen Kerr (second right) awarded practitioners the first prize trophy.
The parade is a cherished Christmas tradition in Baltimore, and Mr. Tom Kerr the Christmas parade committee chairman, has been organizing this event for over 40 years. He said, “This year, we put Falun Dafa’s entry in front because I want everyone to see Falun Dafa.”
Parade committee member Sharen Kerr said, “The Falun Dafa contingent in the parade is exquisite, beautiful.”
Baltimore is the largest city in Maryland. Over 100 groups participated in this year’s parade, which passed through local neighborhoods. Thousands of spectators lined the parade route, which was 2.5 miles long.
The Falun Dafa entry consisted of the waist drum team and a float. The bright colors drew a lot of attention and were a focal point in local media reports. Many spectators commented that the message “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance” is exactly what the world needs today.
Jessica who looks after student affairs at Johns Hopkins University said it was the first time she attended the Baltimore Christmas parade. It was also the first time she heard of Falun Dafa. She said, “I thought their performance was great, very peaceful. I want to learn Falun Dafa. We all need Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. I will check out the Falun Dafa website when I get home.”
Jessica (left) who looks after student affairs at Johns Hopkins University took a photo with a Falun Dafa practitioner at the parade.
Jamy said, “Seeing Falun Dafa practitioners in the parade was enjoyable. It made me happy.”
Cindy who brought her two daughters to see the parade clapped and cheered nonstop. She thanked practitioners for their refreshing performance. “They were spectacular, I wish I knew how to tell them ‘Merry Christmas’ in Chinese. They were peaceful. I feel I need to find out more about Falun Dafa. The exercises looked beautiful. The world today needs Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance more than ever.”
James and Emily thought the message of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, was extremely important.
Tammy held a flier offered by a practitioner. She said, “I am happy to see the words Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance in the Christmas parade. This is what we need, especially in today’s society. Everyone needs to be a little more patient with one another.”
Michelle (right) loved the lotus flower a practitioner gave her.
Michelle loved the lotus flower a practitioner gave her. The flower had a message “Falun Dafa is great.” She said, “The banner with the words ‘The world needs Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance’ is absolutely right. I loved it. This is uplifting.”
Tom gave practitioners a thumbs-up for their performance at the parade.
Tom sat at the roadside with his friend watching the parade. He said that the waist drummers and float brought inner peace to people as they marched past. “I was touched.” He kept cheering for practitioners.
When practitioners passed by the organizers, there were cheers in the crowd and warm applause. Tom Kerr said all four judges in the float category unanimously agreed the float made by practitioners should be awarded first prize.
Background: What Is Falun Dafa?
Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings, which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and learned the five exercises, have experienced improved health and well-being.
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