Patriot Awards presented to five Acadian employees

LAFAYETTE, La. — Recognizing their extraordinary support of the National Guard and Reserves, five Acadian Ambulance management staff received the prestigious Patriot Award at a ceremony in Lafayette at Acadian Ambulance headquarters.

Photo by Acadian Ambulance

Colonel Roy "Ike" Nomey of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve presented Patriot Awards and pinned Operations Managers Orlando Rolon and Joe Szush, Operations Supervisors Beau Andrepont and Justin Cox, and Coding and Department Center Manager Natalie Roberts. All were nominated by their employees who are currently activated with the 256th Infantry Brigade.

• Paramedic Clarence Darby of Abbeville nominated Rolon. Darby is Sergeant 1st class deployed to Iraq.
• Paramedic Lamar Williams of Lafayette nominated Andrepont. Lamar is Sergeant deployed to Iraq.
• Paramedic Donna Lefort of Gheens nominated Szush. Lefort is First Lieutenant deployed to Iraq.
• EMT Basic Chris Stevens of Baton Rouge nominated Cox. Stevens is Specialist deployed to Iraq.
• EMT Basic Tristan Romero of Youngsville nominated Roberts. Romero is Sergeant deployed to Iraq.

The honor comes from the ESGR, which is a Department of Defense organization. ESGR is a staff group within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, which is in itself a part of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

"I know I speak for everyone when I say that I am extremely honored to receive this award," said Cox. "Acadian Ambulance was founded forty years ago with two medics from the Vietnam War, and today there are hundreds of military veterans in the Acadian family. Our medics of the 256 Brigade, and all service men and women around the globe, are putting themselves in harm's way to defend the freedoms we all enjoy. We daily pray for their safe return. As a company we take tremendous pride in supporting our military personnel and are equally proud to receive this prestigious honor."

Joining the ceremony was Director of Operations Troy Guidry who accepted an award on behalf of Acadian Ambulance for their company leadership and personnel policies that support employee participation in the Guard and Reserve.

Patriot Award candidates must meet certain requirements. They must demonstrate a strong support for service in the National Guard and Reserve and publically acknowledge the contributions of the Reserve component employees to our Nation's defense. They also must support the Guard and Reserve employees in terms of providing continuity of benefits, and or, compensation, and support Guard and Reserve employee families during mobilizations.