[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 36 (Monday, March 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING MARINA MARTINEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. HILDA L. SOLIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 22, 2004

  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Marina 
Martinez. She was a true leader and an inspirational woman who passed 
away on March 15, 2004.
  A community activist in El Sereno, California, Marina Martinez 
promoted parental involvement and advocated for parental rights to 
ensure that every child receives a quality education. She began her 
lifelong commitment to children by volunteering both as a Girl Scout 
leader and Boy Scout den mother in 1959. Since that time, Marina 
chaired numerous organizations and provided leadership to many local, 
State, and Federal organizations. These organizations and positions 
included the Compensatory Education Advisory in 1972 and the Bilingual 
Teacher Training Center in 1976. Most notably, she was appointed by the 
dean of the School of Education to serve as a member of the Advisory 
Committee of the Bilingual Teacher Training Center.
  Marina Martinez also served as the council appointee to the Citizens 
Unit for Participation in Housing and Community Development in 1978 and 
was a proud member of other long-standing community-based organizations 
in El Sereno. These organizations included the Mexican-American 
Education Commission, National Clients Council for the Legal Aid 
Foundation, the Community Alliance for Education, and the El Sereno 
Community Coordinating Council.
  Even with the tragic death of her son Ismael Martinez on December 7, 
1980, Marina and her husband, Joe, did not move away from their El 
Sereno community. On the contrary, they turned their pain into strength 
and vowed to help other families with similar tragedies by establishing 
the Victims of Crime in El Sereno (VOCES). Several years ago, Marina's 
beloved husband, Joe, passed away.
  Marina was a loving and caring community leader. Every Christmas, she 
made sure that victims of senseless violence would not be forgotten. 
Her message was shared throughout the community every December by 
organizing tree lighting ceremonies in Huntington Drive, with each tree 
decorated with red ribbons honoring the deceased victims.
  I have known and supported Marina since my years as a California 
State Assembly member. She leaves behind three grown children and a 
beautiful community she helped build. She will always be remembered for 
her stewardship and hard work to improve her community and the citizens 
who lived in it. We will miss her greatly, and may she rest in peace.

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