Hero Street

 

In Silvis in the front of 2nd. street was "Billy Goat Hill" playground to a close knit group of kids. They played together as most kids do, having mud fights, flying kites and playing games that most kids play. The parents of the kids were Mexican immigrants who had lived in railroad cars in the rail yards in Silvis.

From more than 25 homes on 2nd. street, more than 100 residents served in our countries milletary and 8 of them never returned home.

The families were close to each other and helped each other in joy and in sorrow.They encouraged patriotism in their children and those young men were proud to fight for our country. The boy would feel guilty if they couldn't enlist.

When the news would come when somebody's son was killed,neighbors would go to the home of that family to comfort and help the family any way they could. Something that is so rare today!

After the young men came home they all settled into civilian life. All of them were very proud to serve their country but they were frustrated with the lack of recognition and the discrimination. Some of them had tried to join the local VFW but were refused because they were Hispanic. They opened their own VFW but after a while they ran out of money and had to close it.

In the late 1950's Joe Terronez and Nicholaus Trujillo helped many Mexican-American apply for citizenship and helped them register to vote. Joe Torronez was elected to the Silvis town council in 1963.He served as couscilman for 26 years and was Silvis mayor from 1991 to 1993.

Mr. Terronez proposed legislation that would recognize these heros and their families. With alot of hard work and determination by Mr.Terronez the resolutions made it. The street was renamed Hero street in 1967. In 1971 the street was paved and Hero Street Memorial Park was dedicated.

The Dept. of Housing and Urban Development paid half of the cost of building the park,$88,000 but the Mexican-American community raised and paid the The other half of the money.

In 1993 the residents formed a committe to finance and plan a new monument. The committe comissioned a Mexican sculptor to make a 17 foot bronze and marble monument that includes a portrait and biography of each hero, a flag pole with a US flag steps modeled after an Aztec temple,an American Bald Eagle, a neckchain with a dog tag, a rifle and a helmet.

Mr. Soliz, a retired teacher designed the monument. He also sold a series of paintings as a calendar and also individual paintings to help. The painting represented Mr. Soliz's childhood memories of growing up on Hero street.

This story really impressed me. What dedication thses people have so that we should never forget these brave men.

 

 

 

If there is anyone who would like to send a picture or biography or story of any of these heros, email me at winicaudell@yahoo.com I would love to hear from you!