The Peace Run participated in the very long and colorful Independence Day Parade in Philadelphia today, July 4.
July 4th is a major holiday in the United States which is called 'Independence Day', celebrating the official Declaration of Independence of the original thirteen colonies from British rule in 1776.
Sudhahota Carl Lewis, nine-time Olympic Gold Medalist, participated in the parade as well. Before the start he came to share the Peace Torch with some of our members who were dressed in customary colonial costumes.
Carl Lewis holds the Peace Torch as we sing Happy Birthday to him. It was his birthday on July 1.
The Sri Chinmoy Sacred Fire, formed by Sri Chinmoy to celebrate America's Independence during the Bicentennial Year of 1976, also participated in the parade.
The Peace Torch was passed to some of the many bystanders along the route.
Even with the light rain thousands and thousands of people came out to watch the exciting parade as our team carried a number of torches the whole way.
It was a very colorful parade as people from many other nations had a chance to carry the Torch and share in the message of World Peace.
At the end of the parade our participants came together in full regalia for a colorful photo. The Torch of Liberty and the Torch of Peace both celebrated 239 years of American Independence.
After the Parade we brought the Peace Torch to Washington Crossing, the historic site where George Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River to New Jersey on Christmas Day to win a decisive battle in the struggle for independence with very few casualties.
Banshidhar introduces the Peace Run and hands the Peace Torch over to 'Thomas Jefferson'.
Now it's 'George Washington's' turn to share the Peace Torch.
'George Washington' and 'Thomas Jefferson', the two most important 'Founding Fathers' of the United States of America, share a moment of Peace together.
Sri Chinmoy, the Founder of the Peace Run(pictured on the banner), had great respect and love for these two great men and took many opportunities to honor their achievements in helping to form a new country based on the principles of 'Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness and Peace'.
