BATON ROUGE, LA – President Donald Trump today released the names of his State of the Union special guests; and two names were immediately recognized as Louisiana’s own.

“I commend President Trump for inviting two of Louisiana’s best to be his special guests at tomorrow’s State of the Union Address,” said Attorney General Jeff Landry. “Ashlee and Jon have both shown immense courage in the midst of the devastation Louisiana and our neighbors have had to endure. It is because of heroes like them that Louisiana is such a bright light for the rest of the country. I am glad Ashlee and Jon will receive the attention and gratitude they deserve; and I thank them for their service on behalf of Louisiana.”

Ashlee Leppert is serving her country as an aviation electronics technician for the United States Coast Guard. She rescued dozens during last year’s hurricane season, including a woman she spotted holding what she thought were bags of clothes. However, as she got closer, she learned the woman was actually holding four children. She was able to bring them to safety in a helicopter basket. Ashlee was involved in another lifesaving effort which included the rescue of a woman in labor followed by rushing her and her husband to the hospital to give birth to their son. 

Jon Bridgers founded what is affectionately known as the Cajun Navy in 2016. He, and many others, immediately went to work to help friends and neighbors following the 2016 flood which greatly impacted Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas. Last year, upon learning of the destruction from Hurricane Harvey, the Cajun Navy immediately traveled to Texas to assist our affected neighboors. The Cajun Navy, which started small, has grown to be a nationally-recognized organization with the goal to rise up, unite, and rescue.

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