On July 4, Philadelphia and its suburb Glenside marked America’s 249th Independence Day with vibrant parades and ceremonies, including Philadelphia’s Celebration of Freedom Ceremony and Salute to Independence Parade, alongside Glenside’s century-long parade tradition.
From local heroes to cultural groups, participants celebrated the nation’s founding, community spirit, and the shared dream of freedom.
A Tapestry of Patriotism and Freedom
Philadelphia’s streets echoed with the rhythmic beat of marching bands and the cheers of onlookers. In Glenside, families lined the sidewalks, waving miniature flags as vintage fire trucks and floats rolled by, their horns blaring in festive salute. The celebrations embodied the essence of American identity and a shared love for liberty.
Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), marching in Glenside’s parade—which she noted has been running for more than 100 years—spoke passionately.
“It means everything, it’s in our DNA,” she told The Epoch Times. Two hundred and forty nine years ago, Thomas Jefferson was writing the Declaration of Independence that they would sign a year later, saying that we should be free, we should be independent, that people should have the opportunity to live life to the fullest, with the greatest freedoms and also a protective rule of law, that we are a nation of immigrants, and we welcome the immigrants.”
In Glenside’s festive throng, state Rep. Napoleon Nelson reflected on the nation’s history.
“I’ve got family who has given their all for this country. It has given me and my family great opportunities, but it’s also given us great struggle. And there’s no better time to salute an imperfect but wonderful nation that brings together such great communities, such diverse communities, diversity of thought,” he told the Epoch Times.
Near Independence Hall in Philadelphia, South Philly nonprofit fundraiser Holly Keith shared her pride: “I’m very proud to be a Philadelphian. I walk through the neighborhoods, like near Independence Hall, and I go: ‘That’s where it all started, right here, right near where I live.’
“It just means being free to be who we are in this country and to have that opportunity … a parade like this reminds you what we’re all about, how the country was founded. It’s for everyone.”
Honoring Local Heroes
Philadelphia’s events shone a spotlight on local heroes through the Wawa Foundation Hero Award.
Award winner Bob White, president of Families Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation, told The Epoch Times, “This award to our organization means an awful lot because all that we do, we have to do fundraising, and we do a lot of fundraising, but we also depend on other entities, and Wawa has been always a great supporter.”
He added, “It’s great to see everybody that came out today … Here in Philadelphia is where it all started, and we all should be very, very grateful for what those men did and formed this great country.”
Dave Weinstein, founder of Joyful Readers and a runner-up for the award, connected the group’s mission to Philadelphia’s legacy: “We love the fact that our work is centered here in Philadelphia, the birthplace of America, and that we get to support kids right here in this city,” he told the Epoch Times.
Sean Vereen, president of Heights Philadelphia and another runner-up, emphasized helping others. “We need to continue the legacy of the Declaration and the Constitution, which is that a part of our freedom is about how we help and support one another,” he told The Epoch Times.
A Mosaic of Cultures
The parades burst with color and sound, from the twirl of batons to the vibrant costumes of cultural groups.
Maria Bennett, 2025 Miss Valentine for the Filipino American Society of South Jersey, described what she loved about her first parade ride in Philadelphia. “I would say getting to wave, especially at the little kids, and anyone that says ‘Hi, I’m really friendly.‘ I love meeting people, seeing people, and it’s really nice.”
As a half-American, half-Filipino, she felt the event’s unifying spirit: “I think it brings us all together. Our country is a melting pot, and I feel like the fact that my culture specifically can be represented, and people, even outside of the culture, are waving to me and saying, ‘Hi,’ it’s really beautiful.”
Regina Romani, an organizer with the Flying Dutchman Comic Brigade, highlighted the range of participants: “It actually brought a lot of community together. There’s a lot of different organizations that march in this parade and I haven’t taken notice before in any other parade,” she told the Epoch Times. Her group, which supports special needs children and adults, added a unique element to the festivities.
The New York Waist Drum Team, representing Falun Gong practitioners, filled the air with rhythmic beats in both parades. Phina Sun, a team member in shiny yellow attire, shared her story with The Epoch Times: “We come here to celebrate Independence Day, and for us, it means human rights, democracy, and freedom.”
Her voice softened as she added, “Because I came from mainland China and my belief Falun Dafa is persecuted there, and it is still taking place in China, when I came to America, I appreciate the freedom here because I can freely cultivate Falun Dafa and follow the principles of truthfulness, compassion, forbearance.”
Reflecting on Global Struggles
As the Falun Gong practitioners marched, their banners fluttered in the breeze, drawing attention to the group’s persecution in China since 1999.
Daniel Stark, a Glenside business owner who has attended the local festivities for 39 years, said, “I think that they’re coming here because they know what true oppression is like,
“Many people that live in the United States, they don’t know how to be grateful for the freedoms that we have … because they haven’t spoken to people that come from countries that oppress their people, don’t allow them freedom of religion, don’t allow them freedom of speech, and take away their life and their liberty in a heartbeat if it doesn’t agree with what the government tells them to say.”
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