The Flag of November 28th, Vlora
Spiridon Ilo is the first who has recored the Albanian National Hymn in a professional studio and he has been signatory of the Independence Declaration. It sounds familiar for all of us the song “Eja mblidhuni këtu, këtu”. This song has preceded the Albanian National Hymn, before it became the formal Hymn. It is also known with the title “Për Mëmëdhenë”, and there are different opinions about this song.
In 1918, “Përparimi” newspaper had this advertisement for the patriotic and musicial album of Spiridon Ilo and Giuseppe Mauro in New York, and the gramophone discs were prepared in studios of “Columbia”. Spiridon Ilo was the first who brought in a legal way with Ismail Qemali the National Flag in our country. He was the first who record our National Hymn. So, it’s his attribute that raised in the sky the sounds of the National Hymn.
He is part of this constellation where are few people, who with the patriotism in his blood, has acted in music as a singer, in painting and poetry at the same time. Those patriots whom sacrificed all their knowledges for the benefit of the Albanian National Movement are rare. His son, Vangjo Ilo, feded since in his in early childhood with patriotic feelings, has assisted in the collection and preservation of the objects that accompanied the signing of independence. He has been member of QMKSH board till in the end of his life.