Hero Street: A Historical Documentary Film Series

“Hero Street” Documentaries air on WQPT-PBS Memorial Day May 29th

Four of the completed films from Fourth Wall Films’ award-winning Hero Street documentary series will air on WQPT-PBS (Channel 24) on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29^th.

Honoring the memory of the Hero Street Eight and all of the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the United States armed forces, WQPT will broadcast:

• "Riding the Rails to Hero Street" airs at 7 pm
• "Letters Home to Hero Street" (Frank Sandoval's story) - An Emmy-nominated co-production of WQPT and Fourth Wall Films - at 7:30 pm
• "A Bridge too Far from Hero Street" (William Sandoval's story) at 8 pm
• "An Infantryman from Hero Street" (Joseph Sandoval's story) at 8:30 pm

“Hero Street,” a multi-part documentary series by Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films, explores the compelling true story of eight Mexican-American heroes from Hero Street, USA in Silvis, Illinois: Tony Pompa, Frank Sandoval, William Sandoval, Claro Solis, Peter Masias, Joseph Sandoval, Joseph Gomez and John S. Muños.

Only a block and a half long, Second Street 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 now known, has provided over 150 service members since Mexican-American immigrants settled there in 1929.

“[The Rundles’] beautiful Hero Street series will be a monumental, lasting legacy to ensure that current and future generations will be sure to recognize and salute the selfless patriotism of these families, showing an inspiring example to us all.” Jonathan Turner, Digital News/Entertainment - WHBF

The Rundles are currently in production on the fifth in the series, “The Last to Fall from Hero Street” (John Muños’ Story) which is slated for release in early 2024.

The documentaries were funded in part by grants from the Illinois Humanities, and Humanities Iowa with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Illinois General Assembly; the Moline Foundation; RDA; Quad Cities Community Foundation; and, through its fiscal sponsor the Black Box Theatre a Quad City Arts Dollars grant provided by Illinois Arts Council Agency, Hubbell-Waterman Foundation and John Deere.

Fourth Wall Films is an award-winning and four-time Emmy® winning independent film and video production company formerly located in Los Angeles, and now based in Moline, Illinois. For more information visit HeroStreetMovie.com.

To purchase the documentaries on DVD click HERE.

A special guest to visit Hero Street on Friday

Ambassador Reyna Torres Mendivil is the Consul General of Mexico in Chicago.

By Jonathan Turner
WHBF, OurQuadCities.com

On Friday, May 26, at 11:30 a.m., there will be a special wreath-laying ceremony at the Hero Street Monument and Hero Street Memorial Park, Silvis.

Ambassador Reyna Torres Mendivil is the Consul General of Mexico in Chicago and will visit Hero Street for the ceremony. This is the first time a Consul General of Mexico has ever visited Hero Street.

Maria Mier Llaca of Moline arranged the event, since she often attends Mexico’s Independence Day festivities in September, in Chicago or other cities. She first met Ambassador Torres in 2019 and kept in touch with her. Llaca’s father brought the Mexican Consul General from Chicago to Moline for a visit over 50 years ago.

“I mentioned that we had seven Mexican-Americans who were killed in action from that street. But one of them happened to be a Mexican national when he was killed. He was not an American citizen,” Llaca said Tuesday of the Hero Street Eight. “So that caught her eye. And so I have to tell her, if you ever would like to come to that part of the area, call me and I’ll be more than happy to arrange something, but we kept as friends. We kept up our friendship.”

Read the rest of the WHBF story HERE!

~ ~ ~

“Hero Street,” a multi-part documentary series by Fourth Wall Films, explores the compelling true story of eight Mexican-American heroes from Hero Street, USA in Silvis, Illinois: Tony Pompa, Frank Sandoval, William Sandoval, Claro Solis, Peter Masias, Joseph Sandoval, Joseph Gomez and John S. Muños.

ORDER THE DVD HERE!

Hero Street Memorial Day Weekend Ceremonies include visit by Mexican Ambassador Reyna Mendivil

Special Wreath-laying Ceremony ~ Friday, May 26, 2023 at 11:30 a.m., Hero Street Monument and Hero Street Memorial Park, Silvis, Illinois.

From the City of Silvis: "Ambassador Reyna Torres Mendivil is the Consul General of Mexico in Chicago. Madam Torres will be here visiting Hero Street and doing a wreath-laying ceremony. This is the first time a Consul General of Mexico has ever visited Hero Street. We are blessed to have her here to honor the fallen 8.

Amb. Reyna Torres, Consul General of Mexico in Chicago will be joined by Beatriz Vernon/Press Attache, Slaudia Castillo/Consul for Community Affairs, and Luis Cedeno/Fidel Gutierrez."

Hero Street Monument Memorial Day Ceremony ~ Saturday, May 27 at 10:30 a.m.

Memorial Day is a day for remembrance of those who have died in service to our country. A special Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at the Hero Street Monument, on the corner of Hero Street (2nd Street) in Silvis, Illinois on Saturday, May 27th at 10:30 a.m.  All are welcome!

 

Hero Street Memorial Park Ceremony ~ Saturday, May 27 at Noon.

The City of Silvis will hold it's annual memorial day service at Hero Street Memorial Park at noon. Special guests include State representative Gregg Johnson; Rock Island County State's Attorney Dora Villarreal Nieman; Navy Veteran (retired) Brian Munos; and a Military officer from the Rock Island Arsenal (tba). Please remember to bring your lawn chairs.

 

 

Four Award-winning Hero Street Documentaries Air on WQPT-PBS ~ Memorial Day, Monday, May 29 7 p.m.-9 p.m. 

Four of the completed films from the Fourth Wall Films' award-winning documentary series will air on WQPT-PBS (Channel 24) on Memorial Day: "Riding the Rails to Hero Street", the Emmy-nominated WQPT/Fourth Wall Films co-produced "Letters Home to Hero Street" (Frank Sandoval's story), "A Bridge too Far from Hero Street" (William Sandoval's story), "An Infantryman from Hero Street" (Joseph Sandoval's story).

 

Only a block and a half long, Second Street 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 now known, has provided over 100 service members since Mexican-American immigrants settled there in 1929.

We honor the memory of the Hero Street Eight: Tony Pompa, Frank Sandoval, William Sandoval, Claro Solis, Peter Masias, Joseph Sandoval, Joseph Gomez and John S. Muños; and all of the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the United States armed forces.

HeroStreetMovie.com

 

Memorial Day Service to be held at Hero Street Monument Saturday, May 27

"And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave." ~ Joseph Rodman Drake

 

Memorial Day is a day for remembrance of those who have died in service to our country.

 

A special Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at the Hero Street Monument, on the corner of Hero Street (2nd Street) in Silvis, Illinois on Saturday, May 27th at 10:30 a.m.  All are welcome!

 

Only a block and a half long, Second Street 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 now known, has provided over 100 service members since Mexican-American immigrants settled there in 1929.

We honor the memory of the Hero Street Eight: Tony Pompa, Frank Sandoval, William Sandoval, Claro Solis, Peter Masias, Joseph Sandoval, Joseph Gomez and John S. Muños; and all of the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the United States armed forces.

HeroStreetMovie.com

The heroine of Hero Street turns 100 - Happy Birthday Nellie Munos!

A very happy 100th birthday to lovely Nellie Munos of Hero Street, USA!

Read the story on WHBF by journalist Jonathan Turner

Nellie Muños is a true heroine.

The oldest surviving resident of Hero Street in Silvis (whose brother-in-law was one of the eight acclaimed heroes), the kind, giving and good-hearted lady will turn 100 on Cinco de Mayo, Friday, May 5.

They’re expecting over 300 people (from all over the U.S.) at her birthday party Friday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Silvis.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY HERE: https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/local-news/the-heroine-of-hero-street-turns-100/

~~~

“Hero Street,” a multi-part documentary series by Fourth Wall Films, explores the compelling true story of eight Mexican-American heroes from Hero Street, USA in Silvis, Illinois: Tony Pompa, Frank Sandoval, William Sandoval, Claro Solis, Peter Masias, Joseph Sandoval, Joseph Gomez and John S. Muños.

ORDER THE DVD HERE!