On Thursday, November 27th, while families across the United States gathered around dinner tables to celebrate Thanksgiving — sharing meals, giving thanks, and enjoying the warmth of loved ones — two members of the West Virginia National Guard were performing a very different duty. Instead of spending the holiday at home, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom of the 863rd Military Police Company and Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe of the 167th Airlift Wing’s Force Support Squadron were patrolling the streets of Washington, D.C., fulfilling a federal activation in support of the Metropolitan Police Department. Their mission was to bolster the city’s law enforcement presence and assist in reducing violent crime the nation’s capital.
Shortly after 2 p.m., while assigned to a routine foot patrol approximately one block from the White House grounds, tragedy struck. A gunman approached the two Guardsmen and intentionally opened fire in what authorities later described as an ambush-style attack. Both soldiers were struck before they could react, collapsing on a sidewalk just steps from one of the most secure zones in the country. Emergency responders quickly transported them to a nearby hospital, where they were listed in critical condition. The nature of the attack — deliberate, targeted, and carried out in broad daylight — shocked the entire nation and immediately prompted a surge of federal and local law enforcement activity.
In the hours that followed, the magnitude of the loss began to settle in. Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, only 20 years old, succumbed to her injuries after fighting valiantly for her life. She had enlisted out of a sense of duty and purpose, following in the footsteps of her family’s tradition of military service. Friends remember her as a motivated, compassionate soldier who took pride in every assignment, no matter how routine or demanding. She had been looking forward to pursuing a full-time career with the National Guard and dreamed of one day joining law enforcement.
Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, a member of the West Virginia Air National Guard, remained hospitalized in critical condition. Known for his professionalism, strong leadership, and unwavering commitment to his airmen, he had built a reputation as someone who always put service before self. His work in the Force Support Squadron had earned him respect across both the Air Guard community and among those he served with throughout West Virginia. As he continues to fight for his life, Guardsmen across the state have rallied in prayer and support for him and his family.
The attack sent shockwaves throughout the National Guard and State Defense Force community. Across Washington, D.C., units increased their patrols, security was tightened, and additional Guardsmen were ordered into the city to reinforce ongoing operations. State and federal leaders expressed profound sorrow at the loss, calling the incident a senseless act of violence against those who dedicate their lives to protecting the public. Vigils were held in West Virginia and across National Guard installations nationwide, as fellow service members honored the sacrifice of two soldiers who should have been home enjoying a peaceful holiday.
For members of the State Defense Forces across the country, the tragedy has been deeply felt. State Defense Force troops serve side by side with the National Guard in countless missions — from natural disaster response to public safety operations — and the bond between the two components is strong and enduring. When one service suffers a loss, the entire community grieves.
As we remember Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and support Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe during this difficult time, we acknowledge the extraordinary commitment of every service member who leaves the comfort of home to stand watch over the communities of this nation. These two heroes spent Thanksgiving Day ensuring the safety of others, allowing Americans to enjoy the freedoms and traditions that have defined our country for 250 years.
As 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, we reflect on the courage of those early State Militiamen who stood firm on the fields of Concord against tyranny and injustice. Today, that same unwavering commitment to liberty continues on the streets of Washington, D.C., and in communities across the nation. The U.S. and State Military remain steadfast guardians of the flame of freedom, defending it from those who would seek to snuff it out. Their service and sacrifices serve as a powerful reminder of the true cost of service — and of the heroes who willingly shoulder that burden so that all Americans may live in peace and security.
The State Guard & Defense Force Council will always remember the sacrifice Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe gave in service to their country. In searching for words equal to the weight of their courage, we can only turn to the wisdom of a leader who, in another moment of national grief, captured the meaning of such sacrifice more eloquently than any of us could:
“The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
-Abraham Lincoln, 1863
Sources: CNN – AP News – AP News – CBS News – DVIDS – National Constitution Center