During the 1930’s people of Mexican descendants came to the Midwest and settled in a small town called Silvis Ill, with a population of 6900. They settled in a residential area, which was owned by the Rock Island Railroad Line. Because of the company’s constant need to maintain the railroads it was a necessity that the workers lived near by. Official’s set aside plots of land where make –shift boxcars were available to rent tax-free which were provided to serve as home for the families.
It was important that the residents bring up their children to seek a better life than to undergo the hardship as they did. The idea of survival was imperative in the minds of the residents, so much that those hardships strengthened the resolve of the children to seek a better life.
The families were large, in some cases as many as twelve per family. The boys and girls of Second Street were seeking a better way of life than their parents. Thus when the call to serve their country came during WWII, the young men and women heard the call and volunteered to join the Navy, Marines or Air Corps or were drafted into the Army. They were ready to fight for their country to preserve all the freedom of our great nation.
It has been documented that as of the present day there have been over 100 young men and women from Second Street who have given service to the United States Military Forces. It had been researched and documented by The Department of Defense in Washington, D.C. that (there is no other street of comparable size) that has had as many men and women render service to the Armed Forces of the United States of America then the 11/2 block long street in Silvis, Illinois. Of these 100 or more Military men and women, six of them were killed in action during WWII and two during the Korean War.
Because of the contributions of these young American the street was renamed Hero Street USA in May 1967, by former Mayor of Silvis, William Tatmen. On 30 October 1971 a city park was built and dedicated as Hero Street Park in honor of the eight deceased service men 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.