The funeral procession of Tech. Sgt. Dashan J. Briggs, a Riverhead native among seven airmen who died in a helicopter crash in western Iraq March 15, will traverse through town today as it makes its way to Calverton National Cemetery.
The procession will pass the home in the Millbrook Gables community where Briggs grew up as well as Riverhead High School, from which the serviceman graduated in 2007. The Riverhead High School NJROTC stand in salute outside the high school.
The funeral cortege is scheduled to leave the Westhampton Beach Fire Department, where visitation and funeral services were held, at approximately 10:30 a.m., according to funeral director Sal Mangano of Mangano-Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead, which is handling the arrangements. The procession should arrive at Riverhead High School between 11:15 and 11:30 a.m.
Military aircraft will conduct a flyover at the national cemetery, Mangano said.
Briggs, 30, and three others aboard the aircraft — Capt. Andreas B. O’Keeffe, 37, of Center Moriches, Capt. Christopher T. Zanetis, 37, of Long Island City and Master Sgt. Christopher J. Raguso, 39, of Commack — were members of the 106th Air National Guard Rescue Wing in Westhampton. Their repatriated remains arrived at the airbase on Tuesday.
Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller said he did not expect road closures in Riverhead today in connection with the funeral procession. Traffic flow will be disrupted in the areas through which the procession will pass; motorists should expect some delays, he said.
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