(Minghui.org) On December 8, 2024, in the tri-state area of New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the local Tri-State Chamber of Commerce held its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and the 52nd Rick Drew Holiday Parade. This popular annual event draws thousands of people from around the area. The Falun Gong practitioners’ parade entry has become one of the highlights and was again warmly welcomed by local residents and officials.

The 52nd Rick Drew Holiday Parade started at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 8. The special thing about this parade is that it steps off in Matamoras, in Pennsylvania, and proceeds all the way to Port Jervis, on the border of New York State. This cross-state parade has become a major event of the Christmas season every year in the tri-state area. Many families arrived early to stake out places along the parade route with chairs and warm blankets. The cheerful greeting, “Merry Christmas!” was heard, and children carried small bags to collect candy tossed to them during the parade.

Falun Gong practitioners participate in the annual Rick Drew Holiday Parade in the New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey tri-state area on December 8, 2024. 

The local Tri-State Chamber of Commerce held its annual parade and Christmas Tree Lighting Event on December 8, 2024.

This year marked the fifth time that Falun Gong practitioners have participated in this holiday event. The Falun Gong waist drum team and the exercise demonstration team drew a warm welcome from the organizers and residents.

Port Jervis Mayor Dominic Cicalese said, “We are very happy that the Falun Gong team will participate in our parade. The Tri-State Chamber of Commerce hopes they will participate and invites them every year. We look forward to their participation again next year.”

Local residents proudly say that the tri-state area is a great place to live, with friendly people and quiet communities. The parade included many local community groups, companies, police departments, fire departments, as well as student clubs and various sports teams. The Falun Gong practitioners who take part in the parade are also residents of the area.

Laura, a Falun Gong practitioner who has lived in the area for 10 years, said that it is a wonderful place and she often hikes in the surrounding countryside with her family. She is more than willing to share information about Falun Dafa with the community during the Christmas parade.

Laura said, “I have practiced Falun Gong for more than 20 years. Falun Gong is a wonderful spiritual practice. Its participants follow the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. The improvement in health is amazing. We will show everyone the five peaceful exercises of Falun Gong as much as possible in the parade.

“In the stressful modern world, people don’t always know the best way to guide themselves,” Laura continued. “Falun Gong requires us to improve our character or moral qualities every day. No matter what your job is, as long as you treat others well, you will find that you are making progress every day. This is really great.”

A spectator remarked, “The waist drum team is wonderful and beautiful, and the small lotus flowers they hand out are also beautiful. I will definitely take a look at the Falun Gong flyer.”

Police Chief: People Need Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance

Police Chief William Worden of Port Jervis

Falun Gong’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are welcomed by the Tri-State community. Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden said that people need to follow those principles.

“I think many of us need these principles,” he said. “Our community welcomes Falun Gong. We welcome their culture, and we welcome all the excitement and enthusiasm of this powerful message the spiritual practice brings.”

A group of teenagers in the parade said they liked the Falun Gong waist drum team. A boy named Ben said, “The Chinese drums are great! We like diversity; we welcome them. This is a joyful parade, and it’s a happy moment for everyone.”

Sam and her family watched the parade along the roadside. Sam said she liked the Chinese waist drum performance. “It’s great, very beautiful,” she said. “The principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance sound really great. I need to go back home and study [these principles].”

Chris comes to watch the parade every year with his family. He said it was a special thing for the communities of three states to participate in the same parade.

“It brings several communities together and makes us a whole,” he said, adding that the Dafa practitioners’ performances and their informational materials “are beautiful.”

At 6 p.m., while a band played festive music, the parade participants gathered in the center of Port Jervis and watched the mayor light the Christmas tree while enjoying free hot chocolate and snacks.