WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Library of Congress boasts more than ten million items within its Hispanic collection, an estimated one million books and periodicals on Latin America alone. It is in the setting of this impressive collection that the United States Marine Corps joined with TIYM Publishing at a special event to release the 2004 Hispanic Yearbook, an informational sourcebook and directory for the Hispanic community in the United States.
The 2004 Hispanic Yearbook highlights the accomplishments of Hispanics in many walks of life, to include the military. This year the Marine Corps is featured in seven full-color pages that highlight educational and leadership opportunities in the Corps, as well as the accomplishments of several Hispanic Marines.
The highest ranking Hispanic Marine, Major General Christopher Cortez, Commanding General Marine Corps Recruiting Command, shared his thoughts about the yearbook.
"I am a firm believer in the value of the Hispanic Yearbook; this is a great resource. I am even prouder to tell you that the Marine Corps has been associated with this publication for many years," said Cortez. "This great resource is not only a valuable networking tool for all of us, it also represents an important effort in building a more diverse and representative society."
The Marine Corps uses the Hispanic Yearbook as a means of communicating its message of opportunity and diversity to influencers in the Hispanic community.
"We embrace diversity because we recognize that each individual brings talents and skills that will make the Marine Corps a better organization," said Capt. Marc Cole, diversity marketing officer, Marine Corps Recruiting Command.
In addition to the seven-page insert, which describes career opportunities and success stories of Hispanic Marines, the book contains an introductory letter from the Commandant of the Marine Corps and a recruiting advertisement featuring a Hispanic American Marine.