SACRAMENTO – Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) honored Staff Sergeant Efren Martinez yesterday as the 46th Assembly District Veteran of the Year honoree at the 5th Annual Veteran of the Year Luncheon, held at the Sacramento Convention Center to honor California veterans for their outstanding service to our country.

"I am honored to have the privilege of naming Efren Martinez as my district's Veteran of the Year," said Speaker Pérez. "He has shown great sacrifice, bravery and patriotism while serving in what is known to be some of the most dangerous areas of the world. I am grateful for his safe return home. I know his contributions to our nation, and to our state, will not end on the battlefield."

Staff Sergeant Martinez served in the United States Marine Corps from 2001 to 2010, during which he completed three combat deployments and countless missions in Iraq, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya. He received numerous honors and medals for his service, including the Presidential Unit-Citation, Combat Action Ribbon and National Defense Service Medal.

Following his military career, Staff Sergeant Martinez returned to his childhood community of South Los Angeles and dedicated himself to improving the quality of education, increasing access to affordable healthcare, and attracting economic development and high paying jobs for its community residents. Currently, Staff Sergeant Martinez is the Executive Director/CEO of the Florence-Firestone/Walnut Park Chamber of Commerce and the Chair for Economic Development Committee for the Second Supervisorial District's Empowerment Congress. He also serves as a board member of many community organizations, including the Salvation Army, L.A. County Sheriffs Century Station Foundation, and the YMCA, and enjoys volunteering in the community, having completed over 4,000 service hours reading to children and assisting the elderly at local convalescent homes.

CONTACT: John Vigna (916) 319-2408

Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker