"The mother of the homeland" was born in Buenos Aires between 1766 and 1767, and actively participated in the War of Independence. Many women accompanied the army and collaborated in different tasks, but some, like María Remedios, besides accompanying her husband and her two sons, enlisted informally in the army and left the first expedition to Alto Perú under the command of Ortiz de Ocampo on July 6, 1810, she participated in many key battles for the independence and was appointed 'Captain' by Belgrano.

She was about to be shot and was tortured by the Spaniards. In 1813 she was taken prisoner and subjected to public floggings for nine days, which left her scarred for the rest of her life. Bravely, she was able to escape from her captors to return to the battlefields. When the war ended, María Remedios del Valle returned to Buenos Aires. She died on November 8, 1847, without having received in life recognition for her collaboration in the Wars for Independence. Almost 200 years later, Law No. 26,852 was passed in her memory, which commemorates the National Day of Afro-Argentineans and Afro-Culture. A historic milestone in the path of visibility of the contributions of the Afro community in the construction of Argentina.

Since the last month (JUly 2021), she became the first woman in the hall of Patriot of the National Congress.

SOURCE: Cultura.gob