Town To Dedicate Street To Hero Airman Killed In Copter Crash

RIVERHEAD, NY — The community continues to honor a hero airman killed in a helicopter crash in Iraq.

The Riverhead Town board will dedicate Lewis Street to Tech. Sgt. Dashan J Briggs; the event will take place in front of Millbrook Gables Park on Lewis St., off of E. Main St toward Segal Ave., on Saturday, May 26 at 10 a.m.

The new honorary name for Lewis Street — the street where he grew up — will be “Dashan J. Briggs Way.”

The tribute comes two months after Tech. Sgt. Briggs, as well as other members of the 106th Rescue Wing, were lost during their mission in Al-Qa’im, Iraq, the board said.

The Riverhead town board passed Resolution 309 unanimously to honor and memorialize Tech.Sgt. Briggs "for his dedication to keeping our community and country safe," a release said.

“The Town of Riverhead Board is honored to be dedicating Lewis Street to Tech. Sgt. Dashan Briggs for his bravery and ultimate sacrifice to our community and country," said Riverhead Town Supervisor Laura Jens-Smith.

Briggs dedicated his life and commitment to the community and was awarded, along with 12 local Air National Guard members, the New York State Humane Service Medal in 2011 for his services during Hurricane Irene, a release said.

A 2007 graduate of Riverhead High School, Tech. Sgt. Briggs grew up on Lewis Street with his grandparents.

In 2010, Tech. Sgt. Briggs joined the Air National Guard 106th Rescue Wing and was deployed to Afghanistan as a munitions system specialist. Tech. Sgt. Dashan Briggs is survived by his wife Rebecca Briggs and their two children, Jayden and Ava, who live in Port Jefferson Station.

Hearts were broken when news broke of the crash.

Under a blanket of gray clouds and mist, heavy hearts joined hands in Westhampton Beach in March to say good-bye to a a true hero.

Tears flowed freely even from the strongest of servicemen at the Westhampton Beach Volunteer Fire Department as a crowd gathered for Tech Sgt. Brigg's funeral.

Briggs, 30, was one of four heroes from the NY Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing, located at Gabreski Airport in Westhampton, who died in a tragic helicopter crash in Iraq that killed seven airmen.

Inside the firehouse, it was standing room only: Briggs' coffin was draped with an American flag; a beautiful American flag created with red, white and blue flowers also stood alongside, a testament to his patriotism, devotion and dedication.

Another spray of flowers featured the heartfelt words, "These things we do, that others may live."

The service began with "The Star Spangled Banner" as the somber crowd stood respectfully.

Lieutenant Colonel Rodney Lisec, HH-60G Pavehawk helicopter pilot from the 106th Rescue Wing of the New York Air National Guard, shared his memories of Briggs, intertwining humor and heart as he told a story about how Briggs, who came to the 106th as an ammunitions specialist, brought a fierce desire to serve coupled with a deeply ingrained work ethic. But there was only one problem — Briggs didn't know how to swim. Undaunted, he took Safety Swim classes with toddlers, never wavering in his dedication.

"Dashan is my brother," he said. His tenacity led to great success; Briggs had accrued the highest number of flying hours and was known for his volunteerism and ever-willingness to lend a hand.

"This was a very selfless man," he said. "Integrity was just a part of his life."

Next, Briggs' high school friend Andre Galarza remembered Dashan, who graduated Riverhead High School in 2007, as "cool," having a variety of cars including a Range Rover and an El Dorado. The pair remained friends even though they attended different colleges and later, bonded again when they worked together, caring for disabled adults — and sharing an apartment for a time in Bellport.

Smiling, Galarza said his friend always kept his cars immaculate. He, too, referenced Briggs' inability to swim and said he'd once saved him from the ocean.

"I always looked up to him," Galarza said, even more so when Briggs joined the Air Force to serve the nation. "He was a straight up guy, a gentleman, a family guy. Brother, I'll miss you so much."

Galarza said when he heard the news of the crash, he didn't want to believe it could be true, kept praying he'd hear that his lifetime friend had somehow jumped to safety.
And then, he said, "I thought of Rebecca and the babies," Briggs' small children Jayden and Ava.

"I didn't know what to do," he said, adding that he then kicked off a GoFundMe, "In Loving Memory of Dashan Briggs." To donate, click here.

The funds, he said, will go a long way toward helping Briggs' family.

"Dashan, I'll miss you. I love you, brother," he said.

Eli Briggs, Dashan's grandfather, then spoke movingly, with love and laughter, about the young man who'd illuminated his life.

"He liked to laugh and have fun," Briggs said. His grandson was his fishing buddy, he said, but the pair more often than not ended up towing cars for people whose vehicles had gotten stuck in the sand.

In fact, Briggs said, Dashan often teased him about his own truck, urging him to get a newer model.

He thanked Sharon Young and his son Gregory Briggs, Dashan's parents, "for bringing Dashan into my life." He also spoke lovingly to Briggs' widow Rebecca. "Dashan picked a lovely wife," he said.

His grandson, he said, was "a good man, a loving man."

"Dashan lived the life he wanted to live, and I supported him in that all the way," he said, urging the crowd, "Don't give up on life."

And while his death was sudden, Briggs said he and his grandson had spoken and agreed, "Life is like a freeway and you never know when your exit is going to come up."

Having lost his own father at just two-and-a-half years old, Briggs vowed that the entire family would join together to help raise the babies his grandson left behind.
"He's in our heart," he said.

Reading a Bible verse, Briggs said he knew for certain that his grandson would agree and ask that everyone gathered find solace in the words of the Scripture: "Just keep on loving one another," he said.

Among the huge crowd at the service were Rep. Lee Zeldin and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.

As the Patriot Guard Riders let the funeral procession to Calverton National Cemetery, they passed through Westhampton Beach, where schoolchildren had lined the way with hand-colored messages and drawings of love.

As the procession headed toward the ceremony, a soft rain, like so many tears, began to fall.

At his wake Wednesday, throughout the room were photos, a sea of photographs depicting a smiling Briggs, in the delivery room when his beautiful babies were born, standing proudly beside his devoted wife, and creating memories with the many who loved him. Smiling, happy photos of Briggs celebrating love and the cherished values he died a hero to protect. Photos of a blessed life cut heartbreakingly short in the line of duty to the nation he served so proudly.

Riverhead students also paid tribute to Briggs, too; at Riverhead High School, the NJROTC honored the fallen soldier by saluting his funeral procession as it stopped in front of their school before making its way to Calverton National Cemetery.

Additionally, students at Riverhead Middle School and Pulaski Street School lined the procession route to pay homage to the Riverhead alumnus. To further mark Staff Sgt. Briggs' memory, the students hung yellow ribbons along the football field fence. Streets in Westhampton and Riverhead were draped with American flags as a procession brought the hero home.

Briggs held the rank of staff sergeant when he passed. He was promoted posthumously to the rank of technical sergeant.

Briggs, a former Riverhead High School football star who lived in Port Jefferson Station, was an HH-60G special missions aviation flight engineer. He joined the 106th Rescue Wing in 2010. He was a full time military member with the wing and assigned to the 101st Rescue Squadron. He previously deployed to Afghanistan as a munitions system specialist with the 106th Maintenance Group, and to Texas and the Caribbean for hurricanes Harvey and Irma as a member of the 101st.

The lives of all four New York Air National Guard airman from the 106th Rescue Wing who were killed in an Iraq helicopter crash were honored and mourned as they were laid to rest and remembered at memorials in their hometowns by the many who loved them.

Patch file photo.