(Clearwisdom.net) On July 4, 2009, 233 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, there were celebrations around the country. Falun Gong practitioners participated in the Independence Day Parade in the City of O'Fallon, Missouri, and won 2nd place in the Best Music category.

Falun Gong practitioners participate in O'Fallon's Independence Day Parade in the rain.

Spectators take Falun Dafa fliers.

A couple listens to a practitioner's (center) introduction of Falun Dafa.

Mayor of O'Fallon (center) expresses his support for Falun Dafa.

Falun Dafa practitioners win 2nd place in the Best Music category

O'Fallon is the seventh largest city in Missouri and has a history of 135 years. This year is the 29th celebration of Independence Day in O'Fallon. It was a rainy day but the crowds were still enthusiastic. Falun Dafa practitioners entered an elegant float in the parade, and distributed fliers along the parade route.

After the parade, Falun Dafa was awarded 2nd place in the Best Music category. At the ceremony, the Mayor of O'Fallon, Bill Hennessy, congratulated the practitioners. A few years ago when Mr. Hennessy was still a city council member, he heard about the persecution of Falun Gong in China and offered his support of the peaceful protests of Falun Gong practitioners.