Press Release: 11/12/2026

NECC Honors Local Veterans with Ceremony

Haverhill, MA (November 10, 2026) — Northern Essex Community College paid tribute to local veterans with its annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Tuesday. The event, organized by Veteran and Military Services Coordinator Alfred (Fred) Denesowicz ’98, started with a flag-raising ceremony on the college’s Haverhill Campus. A breakfast followed, featuring Deputy Chief Engagement Officer for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services Nicholas Charrette, State Representative Andy X. Vargas (D-Haverhill) and keynote speaker retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major Dors G. “Gene” Musgray.

“Veterans Day is more than a date on the calendar,” said Denesowicz. “It’s an opportunity to pause and recognize the courage, commitment, and sacrifices of those who have worn the uniform for our country. It is also time to recognize the families who stood beside them, supported them through deployments and challenges, and shared the sacrifice that comes with military service.”

Deputy Chief Engagement Officer for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services Nicholas Charrette

Charrette echoed that sentiment and shared about the difficulties of navigating life after serving in the Army, particularly as he earned his college degrees from Suffolk University while working full-time and supporting a young family. “I saw firsthand that, sometimes, helping the veterans succeed academically meant first helping them address something that was a barrier outside of the classroom. That’s a lesson I’ve carried into my work at EOVS, where we connect veterans and their families with resources that support their overwhelm.”

State Representative Andy X. Vargas (D-Haverhill)

“We’re looking to find every single way possible to support our veterans, and to continue to say thank you for your service, with not just our words, but with our actions,” said Vargas, highlighting the passage of the Hero Act. Signed into law in 2024 by Governor Maura Healey, it increases the disabled veteran annuity, increases the tax benefits to small business hiring veterans, expands access to mental and behavioral health resources, and broadens the definition of who is a veteran. “When veterans do well, our entire state, our entire country, does well.”

State Representative Andy X. Vargas, Veteran and Military Services Coordinator Fred Denesowicz ’98, U.S. Army Sergeant Major Dors G. “Gene” Musgray

Musgray retired from service in 1988 after a 22-year career with the Army, leaving behind a remarkable record of leadership and service. He served with A Company, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division in the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War, earning two Silver Stars and two Purple Hearts for gallantry and sacrifice. Musgray also received a Bronze Star for meritorious achievement and bravery. 

In his retirement, he began a second career in corrections and probation. Eventually, serving as an assistant chief probation officer, after more than 28 years in that field, Musgray retired in 2016. He continues to give back as a volunteer, mentor, and advisor with the Essex County Veterans Treatment Center, which he helped establish.

Musgray reflected on his time in Vietnam and the hardships he and his fellow soldiers faced in combat and well after. Still, he said being drafted when he was 17 years old turned out to be a good thing, especially as it led him to meet his wife. “While you’re gone, somewhere, they have to raise the kids, they have to worry about you, and just so much, it’s personal. Every award I got, my wife deserved.”

There are dozens of active military or veteran students currently enrolled at NECC and many more military-connected students.  The Military Times included Northern Essex on its “Best for Vets” college list in 2022, and NECC became a designated “Military Friendly School” by Viqtory in 2021. Denesowicz connects students with a range of support services, including Credit for Prior Learning, which can apply students’ experiences to academic credit. To learn more about Veteran and Military Services at NECC, visit the webpage or email Denesowicz at veteransservices@necc.mass.edu.