“A Bridge Too Far from Hero Street" at the Davenport Public Library Fairmount Street Branch -- September 30.
Tuesday, September 30, 6:30 p.m.
Davenport Public Library Fairmount Street Branch, 3000 North Fairmount Street, Davenport IA
Treating patrons to a free screening celebrating a beloved area figure, Fourth Wall Films' Kelly and Tammy Rundle will host a September 30 showing of A Bridge Too Far From Hero Street: William Sandoval's Story at the Davenport Public Library's Fairmount Street Branch, this moving, historical, locally themed doc honoring the life and experiences of a true war hero from Silvis, Illinois.
A Bridge Too Far From Hero Street follows William Sandoval's journey from a boxcar in Silvis, Illinois, to a battle in a forest in Holland. Born into an impoverished family of 12, Willie performed migrant farm work alongside his parents and siblings until his father took a job with the Rock Island Railroad. The Sandovals and other Mexican immigrants made their homes in boxcars in the rail yard. As a young man, Willie became an accomplished boxer.
Answering a call to service following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Willie became an Army paratrooper. He survived several battles over the next two years (Salerno, Anzio), before he was killed at age 21 in October 1944 following his involvement in the largest air assault in history: Operation Market Garden. An interview with military historian John C. McManus, the author of September Hope: The American Side of a Bridge Too Far, highlights Willie's participation, while Marc Wilson, the author of Hero Street, USA is also featured.
Eight sons of Mexican immigrants from the block-and-a-half long Second Street in Silvis, Illinois, were killed in combat in World War II and Korea – more lost than any other street in America. The street was consequently renamed Hero Street in 1968.
The Rundles’ Hero Street documentary series explores the personal and family sagas behind each of the eight heroes from Silvis, Illinois, and tells the compelling true story of an ongoing effort to memorialize them. The Rundles partnered with WQPT-PBS to produce the Mid-America Emmy-nominated Letters Home to Hero Street, which tells Hero Frank Sandoval’s story and was the first film created for the series. A Bridge Too Far From Hero Street is part three in the series that also features Riding the Rails to Hero Street, An Infantryman from Hero Street, and The Last to Fall from Hero Street.
A Bridge too Far from Hero Street will be screened in the SCRA Room for the Davenport Public Library's Fairmount Street Branch on September 30, participation in the 6:30 p.m. event is free, and more information is available by calling (563)326-7832 and visiting DavenportLibrary.com.
