U.S. Marine Corps Major (Ret.) Christopher Lawson will be the guest speaker at this year’s Veterans Day program, set for Mon., Nov. 12, immediately following the parade.

Lawson is a graduate of Pleasant Home High School and currently works in the Social Security Administration office in Andalusia.

During his 21-year military career, he was stationed in Quantico, Va.; Parris Island, S.C.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Gainseville, Fla.; Cherry Point, N.C.; Whidbey Island, Wash.; Pensacola; Iwakuni, Japan; and San Antonio, Texas.

He was deployed in 2007 to WestPac in Iwakuni, Japan; and in 2008 and again in 2009 to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq.

He received the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (5th Award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Achievement Medal (3rd Award), Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism, Drill Instructor Ribbon, Recruiter Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Commendation, Sea Service Deployment (3rd Award), Overseas Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (3rd Award), and National Defense Medal (2nd Award).

He also earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Auburn University in 2002.

Lawson is the son of Dige and Patricia Lawson of the Pleasant Home community. He and his wife, Renee, have two sons, Blake, 19, a University of Alabama student; and Brian, 17, a senior at Pleasant Home High School.

The annual Veterans Day parade will begin at 9 a.m. at the Andalusia High School and end at the Covington County Veterans Memorial. High school bands from area high schools will be marching in the parade.