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Andalusia native Sam Nichols, a retired educator and Vietnam veteran, will be the keynote speaker at this week’s Veterans Day program, which will immediately follow the Veterans Day parade on Thursday.

Nichols is a 1965 graduate of Andalusia High School. In the fall of his freshman year of college, he left Troy State University and joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He reported to Parris Island, South Carolina for training in January of 1967, and was deployed to South Vietnam in August of that year.

After a year in country, he was stationed in North Carolina until his enlistment ended. While serving, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant (E5), and awarded numerous service medals and ribbons.

After leaving the service, Nichols returned to Troy State to resume his education. He spent 37 years in public education, most of which was in Dothan City Schools, where he retired as superintendent. He and his wife, Ellen, have three daughters and five grandsons.

The Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce is organizing the Veterans Day Parade, which rolls at 9 a.m. Thursday. The parade, which had to be cancelled last year because of the pandemic, is expected to be bigger than ever this year.

The Veterans Day program will follow at the Covington Veterans Monument behind City Hall. The City of Andalusia will host a reception in City Hall after the ceremony.