Senate Resolution No. 4511

BY: Senator FLANAGAN

PAYING just tribute and remembering Staff Sergeant
Dashan Briggs of the New York National Guard who
lost his life on Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Iraq

WHEREAS, The courage and bravery of our military personnel since the
United States Armed Forces commenced Operation Enduring Freedom,
Operation New Dawn and Operation Inherent Resolve will ensure our
continued enjoyment of the freedoms we are blessed to have as American
citizens; and

WHEREAS, It is with great sorrow and deep remorse that this
Legislative Body inscribes upon its records this memoriam for Staff
Sergeant Dashan Briggs of the New York National Guard whose selfless
service on behalf of American values has led him to pay the ultimate
sacrifice defending the United States and the ideals and principles upon
which it was founded; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Dashan Briggs, assigned to the 106th Rescue
Wing, was stationed at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in
Westhampton Beach; and

WHEREAS, A true hero and patriot, Staff Sergeant Dashan Briggs was
killed when his HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopter crashed near the city
of Qaim in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, The 106th Rescue Wing specializes in air, land and sea
rescue of pilots and other military personnel and was operating in
support of Operation Inherent Resolve; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Dashan Briggs, a resident of Port Jefferson
Station, New York, was an HH-60G special missions aviation flight
engineer; he joined the 106th Rescue Wing in 2010 and was a full time
military member with the Wing and assigned to the 101st Rescue Squadron;
and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Dashan Briggs 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; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Dashan Briggs was a star football player at
Riverhead High School, a gridiron great who is revered by both current
and past members of the team; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Dashan Briggs is survived by his wife,
Rebecca, his son, Jayden, and his daughter, Ava; and

WHEREAS, The banner of freedom will always wave over our beloved New
York and all of America, the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave;
and

WHEREAS, On behalf of the people of the State of New York, the
members of this Legislative Body offer their most sincere heartfelt

condolences to the family and friends of Staff Sergeant Dashan Briggs;
and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is moved with great respect and
reverent esteem to pay tribute to the heroic actions of Staff Sergeant
Dashan Briggs, knowing his memory will forever remain with his family;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
pay just tribute and remember Staff Sergeant Dashan Briggs of the New
York National Guard who lost his life on Thursday, March 15, 2018, in
Iraq; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Staff Sergeant Dashan Briggs.