VA profiles Marine Corps Veteran Martin Martinez during Hispanic Heritage Month

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has published a profile of Marine Corps Veteran Martin Martinez in its "From Uniform to Unforgettable" series. The profile was written by the department's Center for Minority Veterans and is tied to National Hispanic Heritage Month.

According to the VA, Martinez comes from a family with generations of military service. His grandfather served in the Army and his uncle in the Navy. His father served in the Army during Vietnam before moving to the Air Force. The VA said Martinez was the only family member to serve in the Marine Corps.

Martinez, a percussionist, played in the Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, the department said. One performance was the national anthem at a NASCAR race in Richmond, Virginia, with a military flyover overhead. He left the Marine Corps in 2010.

The VA said Martinez credits music and his parents with teaching him discipline and how to accept criticism. He told the department that this year's Hispanic Heritage Month theme, "Unidos Somos Más," or "Together we are more," resonates with him.

According to the VA, Martinez advised Veterans leaving the military to have a plan while staying open to unexpected opportunities. He also pointed to the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill as a benefit he believes does not get talked about enough.

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/138