World Falun Dafa Day 2026 Celebration Greetings from Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne

Hello everyone and happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. I'm Bridget Thorne, your Fulton County Commissioner for District 1. While I'm not able to be with you in person today, I am truly honored to recognize World Balloon Daffodil Day through an official proclamation from Fulton County. We recognize Balloon Daffodil Day, we acknowledge a spiritual practice grounded in the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance and reflects the importance of building communities where individuals are encouraged to live with integrity, compassion, and mutual respect. Here in our region, the Balloon Daffodil Association of Georgia promotes these values through peaceful meditation, cultural outreach, and community engagement, helping to foster health, mindfulness, and greater cross-cultural understanding across metro Atlanta. It is my privilege to present this proclamation in recognition of World Balloon Daffodil Day, whereas Balloon Daffodil, also known as Balloon Gong, an ancient spiritual discipline with exercises and moral teachings centered on the universal principle of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. First introduced on May 13, 1992 in China by Mr. Li Hongzi, and whereas adherents in more than 100 countries by improving their spiritual, mental, moral, and physical well-being and deepening their understanding of life, humanity, and the universe strive to be better through self-discipline and more altruistic by embracing virtue, cultivating character, and returning to true self. And whereas since 1996, Balloon Daffodil practitioners have touched lives of residents in Fulton County, offering exercises, teaching, sharing the benefits of the peaceful practice, particularly through free introductory workshops and outdoor exercises in counties, libraries, recreation centers, parks, and participating in many community events such as holiday parades, festivals, and whereas Balloon Daffodil practitioners' determination and courage to stand up for truthfulness, compassion, forbearance, while facing severe persecution from the genocidal and dictatorial Chinese Communist Party have demonstrated to the world their indomitable spirit and unyielding will in defending the values and humanity and safeguarding the sacred nature of universal principles, yet still persevering in faith and tireless efforts raising awareness and resisting the oppression through entirely peaceful means for over 27 years. And whereas this proclamation will send a strong message of solidarity to those suffering at the hands of the Chinese regime and a complete denial of its inhumane persecution and forced organ harvesting from Balloon Daffodil practitioners in mainland China. Now therefore be it resolved that the Fulton County Board of Commissioners recognize Balloon Daffodil practitioners in the greater Atlanta area as they celebrate World Balloon Daffodil Week and does hereby proclaim Sunday, May 10, 2026 as Balloon Daffodil Appreciation Day in Fulton County, Georgia. I wish I could be there with you in person today, but I truly appreciate your continued efforts to share these principles throughout our community. We are grateful for the positive impact you make in Fulton County and I hope you have a meaningful and peaceful celebration today.