Disneyland Honors Local Firefighter Heroes With Special Processional
When California was devastated by a series of wildfires earlier this year, The Walt Disney Company rose to the occasion.
Seeing the destruction in its own backyard, Disney immediately pledged $15 million to relief efforts. However, the money was not the most impactful way that Disney helped.
Showing the full force of the Disney machine, the company launched initiatives to help Cast Members, Disney employees, local communities, and children who had been impacted by the fires.
Credit: Photo by Ringo H W Chiu/AP/REX/Shutterstock (9972601w)
To that end, Disney lodged displaced employees at Disneyland, opened its television wardrobe warehouse to give away new and gently used clothing, provided a special Field Day for children whose school had burned down, and pledged to use their talents to rebuild ravaged communities.
“We want to help rebuild,” Bob Iger told the Los Angeles Times. “Rebuilding is not just about money. It’s about ingenuity and determination.”
Celebrating Two Disneyland Heroes
While Disney’s company efforts were commendable, I want to focus on two specific Disneyland Cast Members.
Mark McLean and Larry Chu are members of the Disneyland Fire Department, where they serve daily to keep guests safe. In addition to their roles at Disneyland, however, both firefighters also serve with their local departments.
Photo: Disneyland Fire Department Facebook
Larry, who has been with the Disneyland Fire Department for the past three years, also serves with the Sierra Madre Fire Department. In this capacity, he helped fight the Eaton Fire.
Mark, meanwhile, has served with the Disneyland Fire Department for 15 years, along with his father and uncle. He has also dedicated 21 years to fighting fires with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Photo: Disney
After clocking out at Disneyland on the night that the Palisades Fire broke out, Mark headed straight to the Los Angeles fire station, where he remained on duty for 23 straight days.
Photo: Disney
“We don’t think of ourselves as heroes, being a firefighter is just a career or profession that we enjoy doing,” Mark shared. “It is humbling that you chose us out of all of the men and women in fire service.”
A Special Procession
Disneyland Park held a special cavalcade on Monday to celebrate the Disneyland heroes and six other local firefighters and police personnel.
The procession not only paid tribute to the heroes who bravely put their lives on the line in the state’s time of need but also marked the first day that eligible California firefighters, Los Angeles-based law enforcement personnel, and emergency medical technicians could use their complimentary Heroes Tickets to visit Disneyland!
Photo: Disney
“It’s humbling and feels cool to be honored,” said Larry about being in the cavalcade for his heroic efforts in the Eaton Fire. “We are not used to the limelight, and it’s not what we strive to do in this profession, but it feels good.”
A Family Affair
Family members joined the heroes in the cavalcade, and they were also recognized for their sacrifices and roles in supporting the firefighters during the LA fires.
Photo: Disney
Mark was accompanied by his father, mother, and wife. Mark’s father, David McClean, was a firefighter for more than 30 years before he joined the Disneyland Fire Department.
“I’m really proud of him,” David said, beaming with pride while talking about his son. “He is a good hard worker, and he sure loves working at Disneyland. You can’t beat working here with my son!”
Photo: Disney
All in all, it was a magical and well-earned celebration of everyday heroes.
