(Clearwisdon.net) July 4, 2002, Falun Gong practitioners from St. Louis, Missouri were invited to participate in the Independence Day parade in O'Fallon, a town located 40 miles west of St Louis, Missouri.

This is the second year that we have joined the parade. Although it was very hot, reaching 92^o F, many people came to watch the parade. Both sides of the 2-mile long parade circuit were crowded with people. Since we often come to O'Fallon to hold Falun Gong workshops and have been frequently interviewed by the press, many people had learned about Falun Gong before. Thus, many people cheered at Falun Gong practitioners and asked for truth-clarifying materials. Balloons printed with the words "Falun Dafa" were in high demand. A group of middle school students gazed at the sign "Forbearance" and said "Forbearance, super!"

When the Falun Gong practitioners passed by the podium, the host repeatedly read out our banner reading, "Falun Dafa, Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, a high level cultivation way for body, mind, and spirit." Then, he exclaimed "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, how beautiful! Thank you!"