Virginia is about to throw a world-class birthday party. In 2007 the commonwealth will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the New World. The theme is "Come Home to Virginia."
In Isle of Wight County, the historical church of St. Luke's is readying an inventory of its graves. In Galax, folks are creating a musical heritage trail to add to their bluegrass festival. And, of course, our state capitol in Richmond is getting a multimillion-dollar facelift.
Worthy projects, all. But we are missing a huge opportunity here. We are forgetting to welcome home the person who is, arguably, the most famous Virginian of all.
I'm referring to Princess Matoaka of the Powhatan Confederacy -- aka Rebecca Rolfe, aka Pocahontas.
You see, Pocahontas isn't in Virginia. In 1617 she went to England with her husband, tobacco planter John Rolfe, and their infant son, Thomas. She was wined and dined and celebrated and even presented at the Court of King James. All in all, a magnificent trip. But while aboard a ship preparing to return to Virginia, she became ill and died. Pocahontas was 22.
Her remains were taken back to shore and buried at St. George's Church in Gravesend, England. Sadly, her grave is no longer marked.
But Pocahontas still could come home. She has living descendants, so DNA research could help identify her remains. To find them and restore them for burial in the land of her birth would be a fitting way to celebrate Virginia's anniversary.
Why go to all that trouble?
In her book "Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma," Camilla Townsend put it succinctly:
"A woman as brave as Pocahontas -- who endured a kidnapping, explored an alien faith, dared to marry a foreigner and faced the voyage across the sea for the sake of her people -- deserves better."
We have a year and a half before Virginia's big birthday bash. Let's bring this courageous woman home.
-- Andrew Babb
andrewbbabb@aol.com
