Connecticut eighth-grade student Eniola Taiwo shakes hands with Los Angeles Fire Chief Jaime Moore Dec. 12 during a ceremony that saw the fire department receive an award of excellence star on Hollywood Boulevard. In a school essay, Taiwo suggested the fire department receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their work fighting the Palisades and Sunset fires last January.
Courtesy photo
Wave Staff and Wire Reports
HOLLYWOOD — Following through on a suggestion by a 14-year-old girl, the Los Angeles Fire Department was honored with an Award of Excellence star adjacent to the Hollywood Walk of Fame Dec. 12, recognizing the agency’s bravery and public service battling the Palisades and Sunset fires in January.
The star, located outside the Ovation Entertainment Complex on Hollywood Boulevard, was recommended by a Connecticut eighth-grade student, Eniola Taiwo, who wrote a letter as part of a class assignment about personal heroes. Her letter was addressed to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, suggesting that firefighters who battled the deadly January fires were worthy of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“I know that the first responders aren’t exactly celebrities, contrary to all others on the Walk of Fame, but I am confident that there won’t be much opposition to recognize our modern-day heroes,” Taiwo wrote. “This star for first responders will reach the hearts of many first responders and let them know that what they do is recognized and appreciated. … It will also encourage young people like me to be a change in the world.”
Inspired by that letter, the Chamber of Commerce and Hollywood Community Foundation teamed up to present the Award of Excellence, which is in the form of a star, although it’s not technically on the Walk of Fame. Similar awards have been presented in the past, with recipients including the Los Angeles Times, Variety, the Dodgers and Los Angeles Police Department fallen officers.
“This recognition is not only about honoring the bravery of the Los Angeles Fire Department, but also about celebrating the vision of a young student whose words reminded us all of the importance of gratitude and civic pride,” Steve Nissen, president/CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement prior to the event. “Her letter was the inspiration to create a monument to bravery and service that will forever shine in Hollywood.”
The award and ceremony were supported financially by the Walt Disney Co. The Los Angeles Fire Department “bravely responded on the frontlines of the devastating fires earlier this year,” Lisa Haines, senior vice president of corporate social responsibility for Disney, said.
Delta Air Lines provided round-trip plane tickets for Taiwo, her family, and her teacher for the event, with accommodations provided by the W Hollywood Hotel.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Jamie Moore was among those attending, along with Taiwo and her family.
“Why not recognize our real life heroes?” Eniola said during the ceremony. “A star for these firefighters will let them know that what they do is recognized and appreciated. I hope that it will bring them joy and encourage them to keep being the heroes that they are.”
Moore called the honor unexpected.
“The men and women behind me don’t do this for recognition,” he said. “We never ever dreamt that we would ever be deserving of a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. The reason why is because serving our communities, it’s our calling.”
