VatrA's ROLE DURING BALKAN WAR AND FIRST WORLD WAR.   Vatra  was founded on April 12th 1912 and in October of that year started the Balkan War. A month later, Albania proclaimed independence, on November 1912 in Vlore city.  VATRA sent Faik Konica in Europe to defend Albanian nation rights and our national Church sent Fr. Fan S. Noli.  Faik Konica remained in Europe until the World War I ended, while Fr. Noli returned to the USA in the year 1915 and took the reins of VATRA. During WWI VATRA gained strength  and DIELLI Newspaper was published daily under Mr. Kosta Chekrezi's supervision. 

During this time, many volunteers signed in, a VATRA Band was formed under the direction of Prof. Thoma Nasi, and delegates were named and appointed for London under the leadership of honorable Mehmet Konica. Towards the end of the WWI , in June 1917, VATRA launched a fundraising campaign to save Albania  with the unforgettable motto, "Stay strong, mother, do not be afraid, because  your sons are in the USA" generated by his Grace Bishop Noli. When United States of America entered the war battle, in April 1917, Fr. Fan Noli personally met  President Wilson, who gave his word to protect Albania's Independence - President Wilson kept true to his promise and without his support we would have had no Albania state today.
  

 In the year 1920, through VATRA , Albanian Government borrowed from the VATRA members and never honored repayment as once promised.  In conjunction with so many deeds, we must not forget the literary works that VATRA has provided to the Albanian world. Through VATRA sponsoring many books were published  such as: "History of Scanderbeg" and "Beethoven and the French Revolution"  in English. Those two monumental books  by Fr. Noli were fully sponsored by VATRA members. Later, VATRA, through the meetings and assemblies, decided to focus its activities towards these issues:: 
-Engaging the youth –Continue the charitable work– Continue Literary Work– Create and maintain a student Fund

Vatra Board  during the years 1954-1955
Honorary Chairman Peshkop F.S. Noli(Ph.D) Chairman Gregory Speros; Deputy Chairman Adem K Vishocica; Treasurer Llambi Misho; Secretary Shefqet Kamber(Benca); Dielli Editor G.M Panariti  

COMMISSION members Kemal Veisel, Nicholas Vesio, Pandeli Michael, Koli Janollari,  Van Konari. Reserve participants: Seit Beqo Selenica, John Tassey  Chris Theodore. Council members: Ismail Emin, Ramadan Ali Arza, Petraq Andon, Sadik Kamber Pepellashi, Ismail Mevlani,  Xhafer Pojani.

(Vatra’s archivesBoston Mass. December 1954)

Vatra 's history rightfully can be called the history of the Albanian National Movement in the USA.
Vatra was the organization that mobilized national forces in America and saved Albania from partition due to these forces. Faik Konica, has described VATRA's work as follows in a column published in "DIELLI" on July 7 1922: "During those dark days, when Albania was occupied by foreign armies, when the state was up side down and when the partition of Albania was an open talk - Vatra, being advised by few patriots and inspired by its members' love for the fatherland, encouraged by the voice of Albanian people, took action and acted instead of the dead state. It didn't request any honorary reward, neither the rights of a state, but just undertook duties and expenses. Vatra spent money to finance the delegates, missions, agency subsidiaries, organizing thousands of protests, in few words, the defense of Albania was organized through VATRA. It was so nicely organized that even the Greek PM Mr. Venizelos  mentioned in the Paris Peace Conference that “...the only serious obstacle about Epirus was that of VATRA…” All expenses of VATRA as spokesperson of State was: $197,072.89. These expenses were from the beginning until the year 1922 when Faik Konica did the calculations.

    Vatra Foundation. First meeting to bring together all the Albanian American organizations into one federation took place on December 24 1911,in Boston. This meeting was called with the initiative of "Besa-Bese" association. In these meetings were present: Faik Konica, Fr. Fan Noli, Kristo Floqi, Marko Adams, and Paskal Aleksi. The meetings continued until 28 April 1912, when  Vatra  was officially founded. The official records of the unity commission cites: " We call as formed the Pan Albanian Federation of America by the following associations: Besa-Bese, "Flamuri i Krujes-Kruja Flag" , "Shoqerise Kombetare-National Association" and  "Dallandyshja". In this historic meeting a temporary board is named and its members are: Secretary Fr. Fan noli Treasurer; Llambi Chikozi;  Dielli Manager Kristo Kirka; Federation Branch Managers: Faik Konica and Kristo Floqi. Dielli Newspaper Supervisors: Paskal Aleksi, Elia Tromara and Kosta Vasili.  

The Pan-Albanian Federation VATRA -"The Hearth" , was recognized by the Massachusetts State and received its certificate  on June 13-th 1912.   In the original certificate are these names: Faik Konitza, Lambi Chikozi, Fan S Noli , Kristo Floqi, Elia Tromara, Naum Cere and Kosta Kotta.