La Valentina is a Mexican folk song that is played by many mariachi groups in Mexico and across the United States. La Valentina was written as a tribute to Valentina Ramirez Avitia who fought in the Mexican Revolution at a time when women were not allowed in the Mexican military. She wore her brother’s clothes, hid her hair, and used the name Juan Ramirez. She quickly gained the rank of lieutenant, but after five months, it was discovered that Avitia was a woman, and she was quickly dismissed from the army.