SR1767LRB100 21982 MST 40448 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Between 1939 and 1945, 22 Mexican-American
3families who resided in a two block area in Silvis sent 87 men
4to serve in World War II, more than any U.S. area of comparable
5size; only eight did not come home; and
 
6    WHEREAS, According to the U.S. Army War College and the
7Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Second Street in Silvis,
8contributed more men to military service than any other street
9in any neighborhood in any town in America over the course of
10World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War; in May of
111967, Second Street was renamed as Hero Street; and
 
12    WHEREAS, From Hero Street, young men with names such as
13Gomez, Soliz, Masias, Pompa, Munos, and Sandoval signed up
14without hesitation, and never returned; two Sandoval families
15sent 13 of their sons to fight for the United States; three
16died; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Their stories have been noted in a documentary
18narrated by Martin Sheen titled Hero Street U.S.A., as well as
19another short film, Letters from Hero Street; and
 
20    WHEREAS, A movement is underway to recognize the soldiers
21of Hero Street and the other unsung Latino heroes that have

 

 

SR1767- 2 -LRB100 21982 MST 40448 r

1protected the United States by serving in the military;
2therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
4ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the U.S. Postal
5Service to commemorate the heroes of Hero Street in Silvis with
6a United States postage stamp; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That we declare May of 2018 as "Hero Street
8Month" in the State of Illinois; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
10presented to the families of Hero Street, the Mayor of Silvis,
11and the U.S. Postmaster General.