Northern Essex Community College paid tribute to local veterans Tuesday with its annual Veterans Day Ceremony.
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 state Rep. Andy X. Vargas and state Veterans Services Deputy Chief Engagement Officer Nicholas Charrette. Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Major Dors G. “Gene” Musgray served as keynote speaker.
“Veterans Day is more than a date on the calendar. 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,” he said.
Musgray retired from service in 1988 after a 22-year career with the Army, leaving behind a 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. He also received a Bronze Star for meritorious achievement and bravery.
Charrette echoed Musgray’s sentiment, sharing 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.”
Vargas highlighted passage of the Hero Act, signed into law in 2024 by Gov. Maura Healey. “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,” he said. The Hero Act increases the disabled veteran annuity, increases 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.” Vargas added.
In his retirement, Musgray began a second career in corrections and probation, eventually, serving as an assistant chief probation officer. Musgray retired in 2016 after more than 28 years in that field. 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.