'Appreciation Day' Honors Firefighters, Police

It was a picture-perfect day to show appreciation to the Hollywood Police and Fire Departments as a group of celebrities did on Wednesday.

About 30 stars from television and film showed up at the Hollywood Division police station on Wilcox Avenue to dish up barbecue and serve up smiles at the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s 17th annual Police and Firefighters Appreciation Day.

“This is just so heartwarming and such a morale booster for all the officers and brothers at the fire department,” said Cpt. Beatrice Girmala, commanding officer of the Hollywood LAPD. “We feel the love here today, and we feel so grateful.”

There was plenty of food on hand, raffle prizes, and even Laker girls took part in celebrating the work of area firefighters and law enforcement. LAPD Officer Pamela Anthony was also thankful for the effort.

“This is wonderful,” Anthony said. “It’s nice when someone else can serve us because we’re always serving the community.”

Ed Sanders of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was pleased to help out.

“To come back and say thanks and say, God bless you is a good part of the job,” Sanders said. “This is the best part of the show, giving back. It’s the balance, the nice part.”

As part of the festivities, firefighters from Hollywood Station 27 also received new mattresses and foundations donated by Simmons Bedding Company and Sit ‘n Sleep. This year marks the first year that Simmons joined forces with the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce in what will become a yearly event to make over a Los Angeles fire station.

Mariah Bonner from The Social Network and who is slated to appear in Universal Soldier with Jean Claude Van Demme said the firefighters are very deserving.

“It’s amazing how our firefighters are there for us,” Bonner said. “It’s a hard job, and I respect them for doing it, and I’m grateful for them.”

Leron Gubler, president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce said the event offered a chance for local businesses to honor the “area’s true gatekeepers.”

Also partnering with the Hollywood Chamber to make this year’s Appreciation Day a success were: John Langley Productions, Avalon Nightclub, Paramount Pictures, Church of Scientology, and Bowery Street Enterprises. Councilman Tom LaBonge also showed up to pay tribute.

The Hollywood Renaissance Hotel, the Hollywood Museum, Loteria Grill, Boardner’s of Hollywood, Buca di Beppo, Village Pizzeria, Sandella’s Flatbread Café, Los Angeles Medical Center Farmer’s Market, The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, McDonald’s, and Marty Shelton, chairman of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors contributed to the event as well.