United States: Falun Gong Receives First Place in Parade

On November 22, 2003, Harrisburg held the largest holiday parade in central Pennsylvania. There were 81 group participants, which were divided into band, float and special groups categories. Falun Gong group won first place of the special groups category.

Director of Harrisburg park and recreation department Glen White presents practitioners with the award

On the afternoon of December 31, 2003, on behalf of Mayor Steven Reed, director of Harrisburg's park and recreation department Glen White presented practitioners with the award and thanked them for their outstanding performance.

Mr. White said: "It is the first time that we have judges to select winners among all groups participating the parade. Falun Gong is the first Chinese group to win an award. We have so many beautiful floats, bands and other groups. The fact that Falun Gong won first place says a lot about their outstanding performance. We were very pleased to have Falun Gong in our 2003 Harrisburg holiday parade. We hope that they will come every year in the future."

The Falun Gong practitioners sincerely thanked the Harrisburg city government for their support and the award. While the brutal persecution against Falun Gong is still going on in China, Falun Gong practitioners expressed gratitude for support from all kind-hearted people. They hoped that they delivered the universal principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance" to every spectator's heart through the parade.