Fallen Hero Remembered By Flag Football Friends

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY —Flag football colleagues are joining forces to honor a fallen hero.

A new GoFundMe page, "Dashan Briggs — Dead Rabbits Fund," was created by his teammates.

"For nearly seven years and coming up on 14 seasons, our group of friends have put together a flag football team to compete in Long Island's premiere flag football league, LIFFL. We named ourselves 'The Dead Rabbits' and over that time frame, individuals have come and gone from our roster for a variety of reasons. However, recently we have experienced a loss more tragic and devastating then ever before," the page said.

On Thursday, March 15, the country lost seven United States Air Force servicemen in a helicopter accident in Iraq; the 106th Rescue Wing stationed in Westhampton Beachlost four New York Air National Guardsman, the page said, adding, "One of those men was our teammate USAF Technical Sgt. Dashan Briggs."

Teammates added, "USAF Sgt. Dashan Briggs wasn't just a teammate. He was a friend, a husband to his wife, and a father to his two young children, ages one and two. USAF Technical Sgt. Dashan Briggs is a brave inspiration to all of us. He was prepared to take on whatever was expected of him as a U.S. soldier and as a result he is directly responsible for all of the freedoms we are fortunate enough to experience. We are given the privilege to wake up a play football on Sundays. That privilege is afforded to us because of the sacrifices made by young men like USAF Sgt. Dashan Briggs. He gave his life for our country — now we have the opportunity to give something back in return."

As a team, The Dead Rabbits said they would like to honor the fallen soldier, teammate, friend, father and husband.

Any and all contributions are appreciated, but it is the team's hope that every team in the LIFFL can try to contribute an extra $100, the page said. All the collected donations will be given to USAF Sgt. Briggs' wife, Rebecca Briggs, to help cover the cost of raising two children and also assist with bills that will need to be paid.

"Although we are competitors on the field, we are brothers in humanity," the page reads. "Our football family has experienced a loss and we are looking to you to reach out a hand and pick us up."

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

Tears flowed freely even from the strongest of servicemen at the Westhampton Beach Volunteer Fire Department Wednesday as a crowd gathered for the funeralof Tech. Sgt. Briggs, 30, from Riverhead.

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," that so far has raised $41,399 of its $42,000 goal. 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.

Among the scores present at the wake Wednesday were elected officials including Riverhead Town Councilwoman Jodi Giglio and Riverhead Town Councilman Jim Wooten.

Riverhead students also paid tribute to Briggs on Thursday; at Riverhead High School, the NJROTC honored the fallen soldier by saluting his funeral procession as it stops 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.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, 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 have been honored and mourned as they were laid to rest and remembered at memorials in their hometowns by the many who loved them.

A service for Capt. Andreas O'Keeffe took place Friday; a funeral mass was be held for in Tampa, FL at Incarnation Catholic Church at 11 a.m.

The world has continued to pay tribute to the fallen heroes: Before facing the Blue Jackets, the New York Rangers observed a moment of silence to honor the seven military heroes lost.

The airmen were part of a seven-member team who died when the HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopter they were flying crashed near the city of Al-Qa'im in western Iraq on Thursday.

There is no evidence of enemy action involved in the crash and the incident is under investigation, according to the Department of Defense.

"It is with great sadness that I report the loss of four of our wing members," said Col. Michael Bank, the commander of the 106th Rescue Wing.

"All four of these heroes served their nation and community. Our sincerest condolences and sympathies to the families and friends that have been touched by this tragic event," Bank added.

"Our National Guard family mourns the loss of the seven combat search and rescue Airmen in the HH-60 crash, including four members from the 106th Rescue Wing," said Major General Anthony German, the Adjutant General of New York. "This loss reminds us of the tremendous risks we take in serving our nation every day."

"We honor their service, their professionalism, and their sacrifice as we mourn their loss," German added.

The other three heroes killed in the crash were identified as Master Sgt. William R. Posch, 36, of Florida; and Staff Sgt. Carl Enis, 31, of Florida, and Capt. Mark K. Weber, 29, of Colorado.

Patch file photo.