[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12851-12852]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 250--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE 
   MEMORIAL PARK ON HERO STREET USA, IN SILVIS, ILLINOIS, SHOULD BE 
   RECOGNIZED AS HERO STREET MEMORIAL PARK AND SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE 
 SUPPORTED AS A PARK BY THE TOWN OF SILVIS AT NO COST TO UNITED STATES 
                               TAXPAYERS

  Mr. KIRK submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 250

       Whereas in the small town of Silvis, Illinois, there is a 
     street that is only one and a half blocks long;
       Whereas formerly known as Second Street, today it is 
     officially known as Hero Street USA;
       Whereas from this short street, brave men and women of 
     Hispanic ancestry have served in the United States Armed 
     Forces;
       Whereas today, young men and women from Hero Street USA, 
     valiantly join the United States Armed Forces to defend the 
     Nation;
       Whereas the memorial on Hero Street USA is located near the 
     intersection of Highway 84 and 2nd Street;
       Whereas on the east side of Hero Street USA, the memorial 
     will honor the personal sacrifice of eight young men from 
     Hero Street USA, who were killed in defense of the United 
     States, including six during World War II, PFC Joseph H. 
     Sandoval, PFC Frank H. Sandoval, PFC William L. Sandoval, 
     Sgt. Tony Lopez Pompa, SSG Claro Soliz, and PFC Peter Perez 
     Masias, and two men during the Korean War, PFC John S. Munos 
     and PFC Joseph Gomez;
       Whereas the memorial will pay fitting tribute to these 
     gallant eight men who made the ultimate and selfless 
     sacrifice in the defense of liberty, not only for their loved 
     ones and their country, but for people everywhere around the 
     world who hope to breathe free;
       Whereas these eight men gave their lives so that those of 
     us that gather here at this memorial park can do so free to 
     speak and think;
       Whereas additionally, these men died so that those who 
     follow in their footsteps can be secure in the knowledge that 
     the United States Constitution which they swore to uphold and 
     defend stands firm;
       Whereas the Hero Street Memorial Park symbolizes the 
     devotion to duty and personal sacrifice in the cause of 
     liberty and freedom these eight men displayed that was 
     instrumental in the triumph of the United States and its 
     allies during World War II and the Korean War; and
       Whereas the citizens of the United States have a continuing 
     obligation to educate future generations about this small 
     street in Silvis, Illinois, whose sons and daughters have 
     given so much in the defense of liberty of the United States: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the 
     memorial park on Hero Street USA,

[[Page 12852]]

     in Silvis, Illinois, should be recognized as Hero Street 
     Memorial Park and should continue to be supported as a park 
     by the Town of Silvis at no cost to United States taxpayers.

  Mr. KIRK. Mr. President, I rise today in honor of the fallen soldiers 
from Hero Street USA in Silvis, Illinois and ask that the Senate 
recognize the memorial park on Hero Street as Hero Street Memorial 
Park.
  In 1967, 2nd Street in Silvis, Illinois was renamed ``Hero Street 
USA'' in recognition of the fallen soldiers and their families who grew 
up on that street. When World War II and the Korean Wars broke out, 78 
young Mexican-American men, who lived on Hero Street, bravely went to 
war to serve our Nation and defend our freedoms in battle. Six soldiers 
lost their lives during World War II and two others lost their lives 
during battle in the Korean War.
  Located halfway down the block on the east side of Hero Street USA 
there is a neighborhood park that was redesigned to honor these fallen 
soldiers in 1971. This memorial park honors the story that brought 
these families together and brave sacrifices these men made to defend 
of our freedom and to uphold liberty and the principles of the 
Constitution of the United States.
  Recognizing Hero Street Memorial Park will tell the story of these 
fallen soldiers for future generations and will honor the bravery and 
selfless sacrifice of those who gave so much for their country.

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