Hollywood has honored thousands of icons over the decades, but this Friday, the city will add a new kind of star to its storied sidewalks: one dedicated not to entertainers, but to the men and women who protect Los Angeles with their lives.
And it all started with one 14-year-old girl.
When Cincinnati eighth-grader Eniola Taiwo wrote an essay about personal heroes for a civics class assignment earlier this year, she didn’t choose a celebrity, athlete, or fictional figure. She chose the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Her heartfelt letter, sent to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the Hollywood Community Foundation—argued that firefighters deserved a place among Hollywood’s legends: a permanent symbol of courage carved into the Walk of Fame.
“I know the first-responders aren’t exactly celebrities,” she wrote, “but I’m confident that this star will reach the hearts of many and show them their service is recognized and appreciated. It will also encourage young people like me to be a change in the world.”
Her words moved people across Los Angeles and most of all, LAFD Fire Chief Jaime Moore.
Chief Moore reflected on what it means for the LAFD to receive an honor typically reserved for global entertainment icons.
“This star is not about one moment in time,” he told the Southern California News Group. “It represents the daily service and sacrifice of every firefighter and paramedic in our department. Every medical rescue, every wildfire response, every call for help answered at 3 a.m. that’s what this star stands for.”
He added that moments like this demonstrate “just how powerful a community voice is.”
“A young lady reached out to the Chamber of Commerce in a major city, a global landmark known by millions, and made this recommendation. And her voice was heard. The Chamber and The Walt Disney Company did everything to make this happen.”
Moore said the star “symbolizes the professionalism and sacrifice our members make on a daily basis. It brings a lot of pride and happiness to be part of this recognition. What we do helps other people with their troubles.”
“That’s what makes this moment extraordinary,” he said. “It’s proof that every voice matters, no matter how young or how far away.”
On Friday, Dec. 12, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the Hollywood Community Foundation will unveil the Award of Excellence Star in front of the Ovation Entertainment Complex at 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Though visually similar to a Walk of Fame star, this distinction is rare—fewer than 10 organizations have ever received it.
Sarah Zurell, co-chair of the Hollywood Community Foundation, called the student’s letter “one of the most inspiring things we have ever received.”
“She witnessed the January fires, watched the heroic efforts of the LA Fire Department, and used her voice to say what so many were feeling that they are heroes, and they deserve recognition,” Zurell said. “This honor exists because a young girl believed that everyday bravery should be celebrated in the heart of Hollywood.”
Zurell emphasized that the Award of Excellence is outside the traditional Walk of Fame categories.
“This is not an entertainment honor – it’s a civic one. It reflects who we are becoming as a community and what we want to elevate.”
Chief Moore agreed: “This star is bigger than the LAFD. It’s a symbol of what happens when a community listens to its young people. Eniola’s letter changed history.”
