Rafaela Prifti
Vatra President Elmi Berisha regrets not being able to attend in person this evening. As seen in some of the photos of the exhibit, Vatra Federation has a long history with Worcester Albanians organized as Branch Nr. 5. Mr. Berisha thanks and congratulates the organizers, contributors and the Vatra chapter in Worcester. He has a gentle reminder to all, that, on July 28, the headquarters in New York is hosting a symposium to mark the 100 anniversary of Albanian American diplomatic relations.
As the English Editor of the Albanian American Newspaper Dielli, I am proud to be at this event that, among other things, recognizes the importance of the past in our present. Tonight’s opening is proof that our Albanian predecessors made the right choices to get us here. That means, where we go from here, it’s up to us.
On a personal note, I feel slightly envious to many of you in the room. I was named after my paternal grandfather, Rafail, who migrated to Philadelphia at the turn of the 20 century. Seeing the remarkable photographs from 1909-1911-1920, I couldn’t help feeling that my grandfather would have been in one of the pictures at the exhibition, had he first come to Worcester. So, projects like this open the door to future projects and to other parts of the country.
Lastly, one of the forefathers of Vatra and indeed our nation, Fan Noli, who has gifted us with an incredible legacy, has a strong presence in Worcester, not least of which is the Church of St. Mary’s Assumption. Speaking anecdotally to acknowledge the role and support received by Worcester Albanians, Noli called Worcester the heart of the community. And, years later, we are gathered here thanks to the efforts and perseverance of the Albanian Americans, witnessing that the heartbeat of Worcester is among us and it comes loud and clear.
Congratulations!
Photo Credit Ardian Murraj
PS Dielli is publishing the remarks which were not delivered at the venue on account of a miscommunication.