On July 4th, the grand Independence Day parade was held in the US capital, Washington, DC. The Constitution Avenue was packed with people and the sight of the American flag was ubiquitous. Many participants and spectators were dressed in American flag clothing or adorned with various flag-inspired accessories, eager to express their love for the country.
They told Dajiyuan that they are proud and filled with pride for America and for this land of freedom and diversity.
Emely Melgar, who was Miss Parade Fiesta DC, representing Bolivia, shared that she was born in the United States, but her mother and family are from Bolivia. She clinched the crown last year at the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month representing Bolivia in the United States.
Melgar expressed, “Today, we celebrate the Independence Day of America, which is a special day for all Americans.”
“The parade today is delightful, and I am thrilled to participate. America’s ability to embrace all cultures, make people feel welcome, and celebrate what they want to celebrate is truly remarkable.”
“I believe the spirit of America is about acceptance, gratitude, happiness, and freedom… all coming together to embody the American spirit. My American dream is to repay my parents for everything they have given me. My parents immigrated here, and I hope to give back to them the love, care, and opportunities they provided me.”
“For me, America is home. I love my home, love the people and culture here. I am proud to be an American.”
Valeria, an immigrant from Ukraine who moved to the US in August 2015, hailing from Florida, caught attention during the parade for donning angel wings decorated with the American flag pattern.
She said, “America is a great country that offers refuge to anyone in the world and appreciates the inner beauty of people during tough times.”
“Coming to DC was because last year, I founded a website related to Ukraine called Beam (https://blog.beam.org/). This year, we merged with ‘United Health Organization’ and decided to officially launch it on July 1st. Beam aims to remind people that Ukraine is still facing aggression. We decided to create this project for Ukrainian women just to remind people of the sacrifices Ukrainian women are making due to the war.”
“In my homeland, my home was destroyed, and I don’t want the same thing to happen in America.”
Trtiarah Williams, MISS DC’s TEEN 2023 from Washington DC, mentioned, “America is truly great. Regardless of race, region, or occupation, we can come together, unite, and celebrate important holidays like Independence Day on July 4th.”
“In America, everyone should feel welcomed and be able to unite as one.”
Kaila Lambrecht, from Montana, said, “The Independence Day parade today was so much fun. I was with some international friends, and it was their first time here; it was great to share this experience with them.”
“As a resident of Montana, I believe independence means the freedom to choose religious beliefs, acquire desired education, and have freedom of movement.”
Ali Runar, a law school graduate student, expressed, “I love America’s diverse culture. America is inclusive of people from all over the world and provides equal opportunities to supplement this system. Regardless of where you come from, there are plenty of opportunities. I believe this is the best thing America can offer.”