Tickets are going fast for the Putnam Museum National Geographic Giant Screen premiere of two new Hero Street films in the documentary series by Mid-America Emmy®-nominated and award-winning local documentary filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films will take place on the eve of Veterans Day, Sunday, November 10 at 3:00 p.m. Those interested in attending are encouraged to order tickets in advance at Putnam.org. This special premiere event is sponsored by the Beiderbecke Inn, Jennie's Boxcar Mexican Restaurant, and the Quad Cities Alumni Network of the Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity.
Two new films in the Hero Street documentary series will be presented during the special Veterans Day eve event:
Riding the Rails to Hero Street explores the immigrants’ journey from Mexico to Cook’s Point in Davenport, Holy City in Bettendorf, Iowa, and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad train yards and boxcar homes in Silvis, Illinois.
A Bridge Too Far From Hero Street (former working title: A World Away from Hero Street) tells the story of World War II paratrooper William Sandoval of Hero Street in Silvis, Illinois. Born into an impoverished family of twelve, he joined the Army after Pearl Harbor was attacked and became a paratrooper. He survived several battles over the next two years, but was killed at age 21 in October 1944 following his involvement in what is still the largest air assault in history, the British-led Operation Market Garden. This battle was the basis for the Hollywood film “A Bridge Too Far.” The documentary will combine interviews with Sandoval family members and friends with archival photos, letters and documents. The film will also feature an on-camera interview with military historian John C. McManus, the author of "September Hope: The American Side of a Bridge Too Far" and Marc Wilson, author of "Hero Street, USA: The Story of Little Mexico's Fallen Soldiers".
Only a block and a half long, Second Street (renamed Hero Street, USA) in Silvis, Illinois lost six young men in World War II and two in the Korean War, more than any other street in America. Hero Street, as it is known, has provided nearly 200 service members since Mexican-American immigrants settled there in 1929. The multi-part documentary project is in memory of the Hero Street Eight: Frank Sandoval, Tony Pompa, Claro Soliz (Solis), Joseph Sandoval, Peter Masias, William Sandoval, Joseph Gomez and John Munos.
To order Fourth Wall Films' award-winning films, including "Letters Home to Hero Street" (co-produced with WQPT) on DVD, visit http://www.fourthwallfilms.com/dvds.htm.
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