Elmer Harris, former Alabama Power president and Chilton County native, will return to his hometown as the guest speaker of the Veterans Day Celebration Nov. 11 at 11 a.m.

Harris said he hopes to convey at the program the importance of each person who has served or is currently serving in the military.

“War is gruesome,” Harris, 75, said. “No one should ever wish for a war. It is something that nobody needs, but it is something throughout history that was necessary to maintain freedom.”

Harris, who graduated from Chilton County High School in 1957, and Auburn University, served in both the United States Air Force and the Air National Guard.

He worked his way up at Alabama Power to become its top executive in 1989.

“I have always tried to keep up with things going on in my hometown,” Harris said. “When I was contacted by Lally Bates to see if I would be willing to speak at the program, I told him I would. I think there are too many people who find ways to say no, and not enough people find ways to say yes.”

Harris stressed the importance of a country having a strong military, pointing out that “any country that doesn’t defend its freedom will lose its freedom.”

“I think something that is very important for people of all ages to be aware of is the amount of men and women who have given his or her life for the freedoms that we have in this country,” Harris said. “Without someone out front leading and committed, you don’t get anything done. It is a very important lesson that needs to be learned every day. I think sometimes today, we are hesitant to get involved in activities around the world that we need to.”

Harris now lives in Pell City, but credits several of his jobs in Chilton County for providing the foundation for his career.

“When I graduated from high school, I wanted to be the first person in my family to attend and graduate from college,” Harris said. “My family didn’t have the money to send me to college, so I had to work for it. I worked in a machine shop, the Dairy Queen and at WKLF announcing for the radio.”

Harris said it was one day while working at his job at the machine shop in Chilton County when a man stopped by and asked if he had ever heard of a “Cooperative Education Program” with Alabama Power.

“It was a program where you would go to school for three months and then work for three months, so I told them to sign me up, and that is how I was able to go to college,” Harris said. “I went to Auburn University for five years, and now I am a three-time graduate of Auburn University. I am at the point in my life where I am retired and can share with people what I think about certain things.”

Harris referenced a quote by Gen. Douglas MacArthur when explaining the importance of Veterans Day.

“Old soldiers never die, they just fade away,” Harris said. “People need to be proud of the things they have accomplished, and I hope to go over some of that during the program.”

The annual Veterans Day program will be held Nov. 11 on the third floor of the Chilton County Courthouse.

In addition to remarks from Harris, the program will include the presentation of colors, patriotic music and prayer. The ceremony will close with the playing of “Taps.”

The ceremony will be held on the third floor of the Chilton County Courthouse.

The program is sponsored by the following Chilton County veterans organizations: Disabled American Veterans Chapter 33, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3193, American Legion Post 206, American Legion Post 343 and American Legion Douglas Glass Post 6.