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TSgt. Dashan J. Briggs Family Fun Day and BBQ Contest: Photos

Friends and family of Tech. Sgt. Dashan Briggs gathered together Sunday for a family-friendly fundraiser in his memory.

The first annual “TSgt. Dashan J. Briggs Family Fun Day and BBQ Contest” was held at Stotzky Park in Riverhead. The event brought together all the things Sgt. Briggs loved most: family, friends and barbecuing.

The fundraiser celebrated his life, cut short at the age of 30 when a helicopter crashed in March while he was serving with the 106th Rescue Wing in Iraq.

He left behind his wife, Rebecca, and their children Jayden, 3, and Ava, 2. Proceeds raised by the event will benefit the young family.

See photos from the first annual TSgt. Dashan J. Briggs Family Fun Day and BBQ Contest by Elizabeth Wagner below:

Top photo caption: Tech. Sgt. Dashan Briggs wife, Rebecca, and children, Jayden and Ava, of Port Jeff Station. (Elizabeth Wagner)

Taylor Ruth of Shoreham getting her face painted by Achieve Beyond while her aunt, Danielle Anderson of Manorville, looks on. (Elizabeth Wagner photo)
Of BBQ Bretheren and Wading River’s North Fork Bacon & Smokehouse: Joe Micca of Sound Beach, Chris Almeida of Massapequa, Patrick Gaeta of Miller Place (owner of North Fork Bacon & Smokehouse), Ashley Haskell of Miller Place, Todd Krukowski of Southold. (Elizabeth Wagner photo)
Patrick Gaeta of Miller Place (owner of North Fork Bacon & Smokehouse) cooking brisket on-site at Stotzky’s Park in Riverhead. (Elizabeth Wagner photo)
Dashan Briggs’ daughter, Ava Briggs, getting her arm painted while held by her father’s friend’s daughter, Jordan Napolitano of Miller Place. (Elizabeth Wagner photo)
Jeremie Briggs of Riverhead, Eli Briggs of Riverhead, Gregory Briggs of Riverhead. (Elizabeth Wagner photo)
Scenes from the 1st Annual TSgt. Dashan Briggs Family Fun Day & BBQ Contest. (Elizabeth Wagner photo)
Scenes from the 1st Annual TSgt. Dashan Briggs Family Fun Day & BBQ Contest. (Elizabeth Wagner photo)
Volunteers assist Dashan’s daughter, Ava, serving food. (Elizabeth Wagner photo)
Nick Pagano (owner) of Milano’s Burger Shack in Coram. (Elizabeth Wagner photo)
Entries in the brisket competition. (Elizabeth Wagner photo)
Dashan Briggs’ grandfather, Eli Briggs of Riverhead, wife Rebecca Briggs of Port Jefferson Station, daughter, Ava Briggs, and Congressman Lee Zeldin, and his wife, Diana. (Elizabeth Wagner photo)
Steve Smith and son, Bryce Smith, of East Quogue. (Elizabeth Wagner photo)