On Sunday, June 11th, in the courtyard of the Albanian American Cultural Center (AACC) in Riverdale, New Jersey, the “Eagle Square” was inaugurated with the unveiling of the artwork “The Eagle,” a large metal sculpture cast in a foundry.

“The Eagle” is a work and donation by artist Gëzim Ballabani, while the marble dressing of the pedestal is a donation from the company “Royal Marble and Granite” in New Jersey by Fadil Korça. This poured metal eagle weighs about 3 tons, stands approximately 6 meters tall, and has a concrete base measuring 5 square meters with a surrounding garden and red LED lighting.

It is placed prominently at the entrance of the three-story building, which is the largest Albanian center in America, known as the Albanian American Cultural Center (AACC) in Riverdale, New Jersey.

The installation is called “The Eagle’s Square” and is dedicated to one of our national symbols, the double-headed eagle of the red and black flag.

The artistic work “The Eagle” was inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the unveiling of the red-colored cover by the chairman of the Center, Mr. Astrit Zhaku, former Republican Congressman from New York, Joe DioGuardi, chairman of the Albanian American Civic League, Paul Carrell, Mayor of Riverdale, Michael Serra, Mayor of Pomton Law, David Kohle, Mayor of Pequannock, diplomat Fatmir Zajmi, Agim Ismaili from the “Hasan Prishtina” cultural center, Eddie Drishti, chairman of the Rozafa Association, and former LDK deputy, Fation Bislimi, among others.

Astrit Zhaku, the leader of the Albanian community in New Jersey, expressed gratitude to all those who joined the Albanians in this ceremony, saying that this Center is special because “here the Albanian community gathers to celebrate our national holidays, to celebrate and carry out community activities, and we also have the Albanian school for Albanian children in New Jersey.”

He further spoke about the significance of the new installation, stating, “This is a multifunctional center for the entire Albanian community. Here we preserve our sweet and beautiful Albanian culture, tradition, and language.”

Speaking about the inauguration of “The Eagle’s Square,” Zhaku recalled that on November 28, 1443, our national hero and legendary military commander, Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg, raised the red and black flag with the double-headed eagle on the castle of Kruja. In the middle of the flag, an eagle with two heads, known as “Eagle United,” representing all Albanians, was also placed.

He continued by saying that today, our symbol of national pride, the black double-headed eagle, is being inaugurated in front of our center, and we have gathered to honor the contribution of the Albanian community in New Jersey, the founders and activists of this magnificent center, who have worked so hard and continue to work tirelessly to preserve our culture, history, and traditions. Thanks to this community, we have this wonderful artwork, which is a donation from Gëzim Ballabani, for his exceptional work and dedication to this project, donated by the company “Royal Marble and Granite” in New Jersey, Fadil Korça, and others.

Furthermore, in his welcoming speech at the inauguration of the new installation, Astrit Zhaku stated, “We have decided to name it ‘The Eagle’s Square’ because this place is precisely an assembly point for Albanians, where we come together from all over the country. We gather here in one place to call it our common home during the good and bad days.”

After the chairman’s speech, Gonxhe Meta, the moderator, invited Joe DioGuardi, the chairman of the Albanian American Civic League, local officials, Agim Ismaili, and diplomat Fatmir Zajmi from the Consulate General of the Republic of Kosovo in the USA to give their greetings.

“A beautiful day with the Albanian community in Riverdale, NJ, at the inauguration of ‘The Eagle’s Square,’ organized by the Albanian-American Cultural Center ‘Struga,’ where I had the honor to be together with our living hero, Joe DioGuardi, and my friend Zikri Meta,” wrote Professor Fation Bislimi in his Twitter status, adding that “Albanians everywhere, especially those in the United States, are invaluable contributors to our national cause and heirs of the state of Kosovo!”

Distinguished Albanian activist Kalosh Sela stated, “This is an astonishing work that will enhance our Albanian pride and give extraordinary beauty to this center where Albanians come together.”

Throughout the ceremony, dance groups from the Albanian American Cultural Center performed dances and songs representing all regions.