During the Fourth of July celebrations, Revolutionary War general and hero, George Washington is often referred to as “the father of our country.”

Maybe it’s time we take nominations to find the mother of our country.

One name, seldom uttered by historians, history professors and Americana buffs, is Polly Cooper, the English name given to an Oneida woman whose people were one of the five founding nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, in the area of upstate New York.

During that harsh winter of 1777-78, the Gen. Washington led Continental Army was bogged down at Valley Forge. Both supplies and morale were at an all-time low. Upstream, Chief Shenendoah, an early backer of the original 13 colonies in their fight for freedom, organized an expedition to assist Gen. Washihgton’s troops. The Chief put together a group of 40 warriors and one woman, Ms. Cooper, to accompany them. Together they braved the cold and snow to deliver more than 600 baskets of corn to the nearly starving young army.

Lucky for the soon-to-be first U.S. president and his hungry and sick warriors, Ms. Cooper never wavered as the expedition risked it all to reach the Colonists behind the enemy lines of the British.

Additional good luck fell on the young army thanks to a more then bountiful corn harvest the previous year. Thus, with their Chief’s blessings and carrying an abundant amount of corn supplies, the Oneida expedition was off to a good start.

After reaching the soldiers and delivering their corn, most of the Natives returned to their lands. A few, including Ms. Cooper, chose to remain with Gen. Washington and assist in their every day tasks.

According to stories passed down from generation to generation by the Oneida Nation, Ms. Cooper aided not only in caring for the many sick soldiers but also taught them the nutritional and medicinal purposes of various foods. Most importantly, she showed them how to use hulled corn to make a soup that was an essential part of the Iroquois diet. She also took time to become the General’s personal chef.

Ms Cooper was even known to have walked among the soldiers during battle to provide water to the soldiers! Things only a caring and loving mother would do for her own children, the soldiers probably thought.

How could these acts of kindness and generosity from the first Americans and one very special lady not inspire Gen. Washington and his men to rally and run the Brits out of Valley Forge and Pennsylvania?

Perhaps if we can visualize such an accomplishment on a movie screen, it’d be like the cavalry arriving in the nick of time to save John Wayne and his pilgrims from an attack by the bad guys. Or something like that.

Ms. Cooper, despite her hard work refused any compensation authorized by Gen. Washington for her dedicated services after the war. The Oneida people tell of the day some of the officer’s wives took Ms. Cooper shopping in nearby Philadelphia.

Ms. Cooper, unaccustomed to such extravaganza, had little interest in the items for sale and purchased nothing. However, some of the ladies did notice that Ms. Cooper took notice of a particular black shawl.

Upon returning to their quarters, the women informed their husbands of the shawl. Not too long afterwards, funds were appropriated by Congress for the purpose of buying the shawl to be given to Ms. Cooper in appreciation for for her gallantry and dedicated service to the Colonist Army during the Valley Forge clash.

It is not known if the Colonial officials knew that among the Iroquois tribes, it was customary to give gifts as part of an official agreement. The story of the shawl is an important one among the Oneida people as it symbolizes their relationship and loyalty to the development of this country.

When the country went to war again in 1812, guess who volunteered to serve as one of the army’s cooks? Ms. Cooper, of course. Today, the shawl is a treasured artifact that remains with the descendants of Polly Cooper.

Officially, the government of the United States acknowledged the contributions of the Oneidas in the Revolution as well as the severity of their sacrifices. Here’s some of that language:

1777.

“The immovable firmness with which you have preserved our faith to Congress and attached yourselves to the fortunes of America has justly raised your glory among nations. It is a glory that will last as long as any memory of these times shall remain. Congress has not forgot your fidelity and attachment (Campisi 1988:58).” 1784

Then in 1794, came this entry:

The Oneidas “adhered faithfully to the United States, and assisted them with their warriors; and in consequence of this adherence and assistance, “ the Oneidas “at an unfortunate period of the war, were driven from their homes, and their houses were burnt and their property destroyed (Kappler 2:37).”

How soon we forgot the love and respect the Oneidas had for this land and its freedom seekers. It’s not what a mother would do.