Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera, a Desert Storm veteran, will be the featured speaker at NECC’s Veterans Appreciation Luncheon on Nov. 12.

Northern Essex Community College will recognize faculty, staff, and student veterans with a series of events tied to Veteran’s Day, November 11.

The series will include a general staff meeting to make faculty and staff better aware of the needs of students who are veterans; a free screening of the documentary film “Darkness and Light”; a Veterans Appreciation Luncheon for faculty, staff and students; and a special veterans’ night at the November 12 men’s basketball game.  All events will be held on the Haverhill Campus, 100 Elliott St.

Faculty and staff will hear what it’s like for veterans to transition from the military to the classroom at the President’s General Staff Meeting on Monday, November 9 from noon to 1.  A panel of student veterans will share their experiences and Jeff Williams, the college’s veterans’ services coordinator, will update faculty and staff on the resources that are available to veterans who enroll at Northern Essex.  This event will be held in the Hartleb Technology Center, Room 103 in Haverhill, and broadcast to the El Hefni Allied Health & Technology Center, Room 301 in Lawrence.

The public is invited to view “Darkness and Light”, a documentary film by Thi Linh Wernau on Tuesday, November 10 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.  Wernau worked with wounded veterans to produce this groundbreaking film, which exposes the humanity of ten post-9/11 Marine veterans and one Korean War soldier through a series of candid and conversational interviews.  As the veterans struggle with wounds ranging from post-traumatic stress (PTS) to triple amputation, Wernau focuses on their feelings and challenges as human beings.   The film will be shown in Lecture Hall A in the Spurk Building.  Those planning to attend should rsvp to engagement@necc.mass.edu.

On Thursday, November 12 at noon, Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera, an Army veteran who served in Iraq and Kuwait during Desert Storm, will be the guest speaker at the Veterans’ Appreciation Luncheon for faculty, staff, and students who are veterans and military members.  The luncheon will be held in the Hartleb Technology Center, Room 103.  Those planning to attend should rsvp to engagement@necc.mass.edu.

That same Thursday night, veterans and military members will be honored during half-time of the men’s basketball game vs. Mass Bay Community College, which will be held beginning at 6 p.m. in the Sport & Fitness Center.  There will be free giveaways for veterans and military members and a fundraiser for Operation Hat Trick, which supports wounded soldiers.

For more information, to request a sign language interpreter or for other accommodations, including food related allergies, please contact the host of this event, the Student Engagement Center 978-556-3731 or engagement@necc.mass.edu.