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 Friday, 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,” Eniola 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…