Editing Silvis, Illinois (section)

=== Hero Street USA ===
[[File:Hero Street Monument in Silvis, Illinois.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Hero Street Monument]]
The name of the city's Second Street—a muddy two-block thoroughfare that was once home to Mexican immigrants who worked for the Rock Island Railroad—was changed in 1967 to Hero Street to honor people who lived on the two-block street and served in the U.S. military.<ref>[http://www.neta.com/~1stbooks/hero.htm Hispanics in Americas Defense: Hero Street U.S.A.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820005754/http://www.neta.com/~1stbooks/hero.htm|date=August 20, 2007}} The Hero Street Monument Committee. Retrieved on July 27, 2007.</ref> A total of 84 men served in World War II, [[Korean War|Korea]], and in [[Vietnam]]. Eight died during World War II: Joseph Gomez, Peter Macias, Johnny Muños, Tony Pompa, Frank Sandoval, Joseph "Joe" Sandoval, William "Willie" Sandoval, and Claro Solis.<ref name="Navy">[https://web.archive.org/web/20041104182330/http://www.msc.navy.mil/sealift/2004/September/perspective.htm Sealift Honoring Hispanic Heroes]. U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command. September 2004. Retrieved on July 27, 2007.</ref>

Eduvigis and Angelina Sandoval immigrated to the U.S. from Romita, Mexico. Their son, Frank, was a combat engineer assigned to help build the Ledo Road in Burma. He was killed when his unit was sent to the front to fight for control of a key airbase. His older brother, Joe, assigned to the 41st Armored Infantry Division in Europe, was killed in April 1945, just days before the war ended.<ref name="Navy" />

Joseph and Carmen Sandoval also immigrated to the United States from Mexico. When the war broke out, they consented to their son Willie's request to enlist in the army. Trained as a paratrooper and assigned to the [[82nd Airborne Division (United States)|82nd Airborne Division]], he fought in Italy and Germany, and was killed on October 6, 1944, during a combat mission related to [[Operation Market-Garden]], the largest airborne operation of all time.

Silvis Mayor, William Tatmen renamed the street Hero Street USA in May 1967. On 30 October 1971 a city park was built and dedicated as Hero Street Park to honor the eight deceased Hispanic (Latin American) servicemen from Hero Street USA. The park contains a pictorial monument, a grotto, a playground, and a pavilion. The monument contains pictures and biographies of the eight-deceased veteran from Hero Street, the grotto displays the names of all war dead from Silvis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://herostreetusa.org/htm/abouthsm.htm|title=About Hero Street|website=herostreetusa.org}}</ref>

In 2015, Fourth Wall Films released a documentary, "Letters Home to Hero Street", by Emmy-nominated filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://herostreetmovie.com/ |title=Info |website=herostreetmovie.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/hero-street-a-documentary-film|title=Hero Street, A Documentary Film|website=Indiegogo}}</ref>