Tributes have been pouring in for 20-year-old West Virginia National Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom, who was brutally murdered on Thanksgiving Eve in a Washington, D.C., ambush attack allegedly perpetrated by an Afghan terrorist. Beckstrom and her fellow guardsman, Andrew Wolfe, were critically injured, and Beckstrom succumbed to her wounds on Thursday. Wolfe remains in critical condition.
United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, who is active in the murder investigation, honored Beckstrom, declaring it is time to secure justice on her behalf.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom of the National Guard — a hero who volunteered to serve DC on Thanksgiving for people she never met and gave the ultimate sacrifice. May she rest in peace. It is now time to avenge her death and secure… pic.twitter.com/g6e0PhhD7Z
— Jeanine Pirro (@JudgeJeanine) November 27, 2025
Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom of the National Guard — a hero who volunteered to serve DC on Thanksgiving for people she never met and gave the ultimate sacrifice. May she rest in peace. It is now time to avenge her death and secure justice.
The West Virginia National Guard also paid homage.
We are devastated to confirm the death of our own, Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who was shot in the line of duty near the Farragut Square Metro Station Wednesday. Spc. Beckstrom was pronounced dead at MedStar Washington Hospital on Nov. 27, by wounds incurred during the shooting. pic.twitter.com/24aBjnstFk
— WV National Guard (@WVNationalGuard) November 28, 2025
On Saturday, in Sarah Beckstrom's hometown of Summersville, a community in Webster Springs, a vigil was held at Webster County High School to celebrate Beckstrom's life and mourn her passing. Beckstrom attended this high school and worked at a local eatery in the town before enlisting in the WV National Guard. Beckstrom was also active in her community, caring for those around her, especially the veterans.
Steve Postalwait is the founder of Backpacks 4 Veterans, an organization in Summersville that helps veterans who have fallen on hard times across West Virginia. He said Beckstrom was always finding ways to help her fellow soldiers.
"I worked with her, we've done a lot of outreach in the community. So every time there was outreach, I could count on her being there," Postalwait said. "So we always did that and she was always there, she always showed up."
Webster Springs holds a population of just under 700 people, so everyone really does know everyone. This attack on one of their own was an attack on their very community.
The school system is the largest employer in the county, and the high school is a touchstone for many current and former residents.
It was where a vigil was held Saturday night for Specialist Beckstrom. About 150 mourners gathered at Webster County High School in Cowen, W.Va., where they sang hymns, prayed and lit candles to memorialize the slain National Guard member. Blue ribbons were handed out to attendees.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey gave remarks to the attendees, and Gabe Markle, Beckstrom's PE coach during her time at the school, now the school's principal, gave the eulogy at the service, where he spoke of Beckstrom's impact.
WATCH:
AMERICAN HERO: Principal eulogizes National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom at her hometown vigil.
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 30, 2025
"She carried herself with quiet strength, a contagious smile and a positive energy that lifted people around her." pic.twitter.com/dxbcv8tL26
Sarah was the kind of student teachers hope for. She carried herself with quiet strength, a contagious smile and a positive energy that lifted people around her. She was sweet, caring, and always willing to help others. Her commitment to service both in her school and in our nation's military spoke volumes about her character. She chose a path of honor and responsibility, and she did it with humility and grace.
Our RedState colleague Buzz Patterson makes a salient point: Democrats and the Left are far more concerned for criminal illegals, narco-terrorists, and sleeper cell refugees than they are about one of our own: a true American hero birthed out of America's heartland.
Democrats care about narco terrorists and illegal aliens, we care about our American heroes. We are not the same.pic.twitter.com/cVAuAKXQBp
— Buzz Patterson (@BuzzPatterson) November 29, 2025
The intent behind Democrats' and the Left's open borders agenda and transgender policies has been focused on destroying everything that Sarah Beckstrom and other young people like her represent: service, vision, prowess, impact, and the positive power of one person who chooses to make a difference.
Heartbreaking. Sarah Beckstrom volunteered for her assignment in DC at the time her life was stolen by an Afghan migrant.
— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) November 29, 2025
Although initially deployed on assignment, she “really, really grew fond of being down there. Just volunteered for more time,” her ex-boyfriend told local… pic.twitter.com/1CZt5lbYXo
May Beckstrom's commitment to her community and country, and her bravery, set the stage for other young people to rise up and stand athwart a culture and political agenda intent on destroying them.
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