STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — More than 300 parents, children, relatives and supporters gathered Sunday afternoon at Grand Oaks Country Club in Huguenot to celebrate the inaugural Albanian Independence Day Children’s Party.

The grand ballroom brimmed with song, dance and tradition with touches of red, white, and black, the colors of Albania, which are prominently featured on the national flag, against a backdrop of vibrant autumn foliage and overcast skies outside.

For those unfamiliar, red symbolizes bravery and the bloodshed during the fight for independence, while the black double-headed eagle represents sovereignty and national identity.

The highly-anticipated event, hosted by the Dibra Community Organization — also known as Shoqata Atdhetare Dibra— filled the ballroom with laughter, the

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