Acadian Paramedic Recognized With Top Honor
This year's honoree at Acadian Ambulance Service's annual Paramedic Luncheon in Lafayette, La. is Steven Simon of Lake Charles, who has worked for Acadian for 11 years.
The event hosted 2,200 people this Tuesday. It is held each year to honor the company's top medic and has featured notable speakers, including this year's appearances by former president George W. Bush, and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who served as the master of ceremonies. Other dignitaries at the event included former Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco and retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, who coordinated military relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina.
According to an Acadian press release, Simon is a certified EMS instructor and serves as an adjunct instructor at the National EMS Academy. In his acceptance speech, he praised his fellow medics. "What I love most about Acadian is the way we treat our patients and each other, with the utmost compassion and respect," he said. "It's what sets us apart. It's what makes us more than just an ambulance service. It's the Acadian Way."
Bush reflected on the importance of freedom and values when he spoke to the crowd. He also noted that Acadian is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and called Acadian a "quintessentially American success story."
"The outstanding service that made a name for the company when it served only Lafayette Parish is now offered to millions of residents in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and across the nation," he said. "I'm confident that many more chapters of Acadian's success story remain to be written."
