This week we welcome Rebecca Briggs, Gold Star wife and founder of the Dashan J. Briggs Memorial Foundation.  Technical Sergeant Dashan J. Briggs made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the 106th NYS Air National Guard unit as a Special Missions Aviator.  He and his fellow airmen were flying in a HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopter when they crashed on the afternoon of March 15 near the city of Al-Qa’im in western Iraq, where they were performing combat search and rescue operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the American-led coalition to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria.   The Dashan J. Briggs Memorial Foundation, Inc. was founded in 2021 by Rebecca and family to honor his legacy and keep his memory alive.  2023 is the 3rd year for the Run for Briggs 5k and a 1-mile Kid’s Fun Run, sponsored by the Suffolk County Veterans Run Series . Rebecca is honored to announce that they will be taking over the Memorial Day Kickoff Run on May 28th , 2023.  All proceeds from this event will go to the Dashan J. Briggs Memorial Foundation awarding Scholarships to students in Riverhead and Comsewogue High School, and future workshops and seminars to help teach our youth important life skills that are not necessarily taught in schools; such as CPR/AED training, car maintenance, finances, and basic cooking classes, etc.  

Dashan left two children behind; five-year-old, Jayden and four-year-old, Ava. Since the age of four Dashan’s son, Jayden has completed four 5k’s and two 1 Mile runs. Dashan’s daughter, Ava has completed three 1 mile runs and one 5k since the age of 3.  Please come out to see Jayden and Ava set their personal best records on May 28th, as they remember their father and all those lost on Jolly 51.

Signup for the Run for Briggs at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/PortJeffersonStation/RunforBriggs

For more information about the Dashan J. Briggs Memorial Foundation go to https://djbriggsfoundation.org