Written by Jeffery Ji
On July 4, 2023, CYOC (Capital Youth Outreach Club) participated in the National Independence Day Parade in the District of Columbia to recognise the birthday of our wonderful nation, the USA. In CYOC’s display, fifty people ranging from ages seven to over fifty-five volunteered to hold a larger-than-life American flag. They marched one mile at Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Street in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators both at the venue and online. The display was directed by Ping Lu and led by George Xie.
The flag display was in slot 26 of the parade, and the volunteers marched alongside some of the best displays, marching bands, and live performers that the Capital Area had to offer. The flag that the volunteers hoisted garnered a lot of attention, including from the broadcasters of the event. This is what the broadcasters had to say about CYOC:
Carrying the flag is the Capital Youth Outreach Club, a volunteer organization led and managed by senior young students consisting of more than three hundred active members from the regions of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC. Since its first establishment in 2018, CYOC has successfully organized several fundraising activities to support hospitals in their battle against the pandemic, provide aid to Ukrainian musicians impacted by war, and help refugees upon their arrival in our country. CYOC also offers a diverse range of volunteer activities with a focus on education, sports, arts, and various community service projects. The organization warmly welcomes young individuals from all backgrounds to join our mission of serving the community, recognizing the strength that lies in our community, and our collective efforts. Happy Birthday America!
Happy birthday America indeed! In addition to our giant American flag, the event also included marchers from the US military, marching bands from various high schools from across the nation, and actors playing some of the nation’s founding fathers. All in all, the event was very happy and energetic, and was a great way to have fun and enjoy the nation’s heritage at the same time.
CYOC would like to thank the event organizers, The National Park Service, NIPD, and Diversified Events, for giving us the opportunity to celebrate America’s birthday by participating in the march, and we hope to be there to celebrate again next year!
You can watch a recording of the parade on the event organizer’s YouTube channel, or by clicking on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnC9UKmnits
华府青年 CYOC 
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