【明慧网二零一一年七月六日】二零一一年七月四日是美国国庆，今年是美国独立二百三十五周年，这一天，美国各地都举行各项庆祝活动，包括放烟花、花车游行、节庆游行等，其中尤以首都华盛顿DC举行的独立日大游行最具标志性。由两百名法轮功学员组成的天国乐团和花车作为唯一的华人团体参加了这个盛大庆祝活动。
来自全国各地上百个团体参加了这场独立日大游行，队伍节目丰富多彩，象征美国精神的军乐队、历史人物、不同族裔的舞蹈表演、山姆大叔（美国的象征）等各式气球等丰富多彩的表演吸引了数万名来自世界各地的游客和当地民众，包括许多华人。
由两百名法轮功学员组成的天国乐团和花车作为唯一的华人团体今年是第十次连续参加华府国庆大游行。独特的服装、整齐大气的队伍和高水准的演奏格外引人注目，许多观众询问他们来自哪里。
华盛顿DC的庆祝活动直到七月四日晚上在国家大草坪的音乐会和随后的烟火表演完才宣告结束。很多人中午就到了国会大厦前的大草坪等待占据最好的位置来观赏晚上壮观的烟火表演。
一七七六年七月四日，美国正式通过《独立宣言》，确立了美国的立国精神，并承传至今。《独立宣言》是美国最重要的立国文书之一。追求自由、尊重生命是美国的立国之本，两百多年来，已经深深植入美国人的心中。
每年的美国国庆也是美国人重温先祖们的遗训、重温美国立国精神的时刻，一些美国传统人士不断呼吁和提醒美国坚守维护人权的道德理念，不因利益放弃立国的原则。
From - http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2011/7/6/美国首都独立日大游行-天国乐团展风采（图）-243507.html
By a practitioner in Washington, DC
(Clearwisdom.net) July 4, 2011, was America's birthday, marking 235 years of America independence. There were celebrations across the nation throughout the day, including fireworks displays and parades. The National Independence Day Parade in Washington, DC, is a special event. As the only Chinese group, the Divine Land Marching Band, composed of 200 Falun Gong practitioners and a beautifully-decorated float, participated in this grand celebration for the tenth time.
More than 100 groups from across the nation participated in the 4th of July Parade in Washington, DC, which features marching bands, military and specialty units, floats, historical figures, dance performances representing different ethnicities, an “Uncle Sam” balloon, and many other colorful balloons. The parade drew tens of thousands of visitors from around the world as well as local residents, many of them Chinese.
It was the tenth year that Falun Gong practitioners, the only Chinese group, participated in DC's Independence Day Parade. The Falun Gong contingent was composed of the Divine Land Marching Band and a beautifully-decorated float. The band's unique costumes, majesty and precision, and their resounding selections impressed the enthusiastic audience.
The celebration in Washington ended with a live concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol building, followed by a spectacular display of fireworks over the Washington Monument. Many people arrived by noontime to stake out a good spot from which to watch the fireworks in the evening.
On July 4, 1776, the U.S. Declaration of Independence was adopted, and that independent spirit has been passed down to today. The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important founding documents in the world, emphasizing the pursuit of freedom and respect for life as fundamental principles. It has guided the American people for over 200 years.
The 4th of July each year is also a time for Americans to recall these principles and the founding spirit of their country. Some people have sought to remind the government to uphold moral values and human rights, and not to ignore the country's fundamental principles for the sake of profit.
From - http://clearwisdom.net/html/articles/2011/7/7/126569.html
