(Minghui.org) Practitioners in San Diego County attended numerous Independence Day activities on Saturday, July 4, 2026, to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with communities, including a parade in Coronado and two festivals.

The Coronado Fourth of July parade is this season’s largest parade in San Diego County. Falun Dafa practitioners attended the 77th annual event this year and their float won second prize. Along with their float and waist drum team, practitioners also displayed banners which read: “Falun Dafa” and, “We Thank America for Freedom.”

Many spectators welcomed practitioners and many waved to them to show their appreciation. Some parents explained words on the banners: “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance” to their children.

Falun Dafa practitioners joined the Coronado Fourth of July parade. (Minghui.org)

Benefiting the Community

Commentators along the parade route introduced the participating groups to spectators. One commentator Mike Hogan said Falun Dafa practitioners’ group is one of his favorite every year. “I like their costumes and I like their smiles,” he explained.

Kimberly King, another commentator said the Falun Dafa practitioners are among the most peaceful people and they are so happy to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. The commentators knew practitioners were all volunteers and they thanked them for participating in the event every year.

Another commentator Todd Sylvester also thanked Falun Dafa practitioners for their contribution to the community. He said practitioners are very dedicated and their efforts were impressive. The message brought by the practitioners was great and it brought values to the community, he said.

Veteran: Grateful for the Positive Influence

Flag bearer Mike Tuck is a retired Navy veteran who served for over 20 years at the naval base on Coronado Island. “Walking in the front of Falun Dafa practitioners with an American flag bearer is a very meaningful and humble experience for me,” he said.

As a veteran, Mike had held the flag in the past to express his commitment to serving the country. “As I walk in the front with other practitioners here today, it feels like a continuation of that journey. Moreover, we are now following the guidance of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,” he continued.

He explained it’s an honor to be in the front because he is always thankful for Falun Dafa’s positive influence. “My military service taught me about responsibility, resilience, and sacrifice. Now in this celebration with the community, I am glad to share what the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance mean to us,” Mike said.

Local Festivals

In addition to the parade in Coronado, practitioners joined two local festivals to introduce Falun Dafa and they collected signatures on a petition to support US Senate Bill S.4009, the Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act.

Practitioners participated in a local festival on July 4, 2026

Nathan and his family of three came to the celebration at University City, a community near the University of California, San Diego. After signing a petition to support Bill S.4009, he said people should not be suppressed for their faith. “I think we need to step forward and end this unjust persecution,” he said.

Local resident David was helping a local library sell books at a booth. When he noticed the practitioners’ table and hears about the suppression in China, he also signed the petition. “I do not want see a government suppressing its people, and depriving them of their freedom and rights. This is important especially because we are celebrating freedom and liberty today,” he said.

When he headed back to his booth, David took a petition form for his wife. After a while, a woman came up to sign a petition and said David told her about it. One of his friends, Max, also came to sign the petition and he talked with practitioners about the current situation in China.

During the festival at Rancho Bernardo, many residents talked with practitioners and signed petitions. Philip said his father barely escaped the Nazi concentration camp during World War II, so he was very concerned about the persecution of Falun Dafa by the Chinese Communist Party which he called a totalitarian regime. He said he would ask his two sons to contact California Senators and ask them to support Bill S.4009.