WASHINGTON (7News) — The community built a makeshift memorial after learning of the loss of one of the two National Guard members shot during the Wednesday attack near Farragut Square in D.C.
Law enforcement officers and community members left flowers, cards, and American flags to honor Sergeant Andrew Wolfe and Specialist Sarah Beckstrom.
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Both guardsmen were in D.C. to carry out the President’s orders with his Safe and Beautiful Task Force, to patrol the city, which he says is to keep the nation’s Capitol safe and beautiful. Mayor Muriel Bowser spoke up about the shooting and the intentions behind it.
“I want to be very clear with the judge and everyone that’s reported here, somebody drove across the country came to Washington, D.C. to attack America,” said Bowser. “And that person will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. These young people should be at home in West Virginia with their families.”
Hours later, on Thanksgiving, the President announced that Specialist Sarah Beckstrom did not survive the shooting. This is the moment law enforcement and D.C. Fire and EMS honored her last night and paid their respects during the dignified transfer procession from MedStar Hospital.
Residents from Beckstrom’s hometown in Webster Springs held a vigil for her, and there was a request for a statewide moment of silence or prayer on Friday.
“When people told me it was a girl from Webster Springs, I’ve been crying ever since,” said an older man.
“Such a tragedy that something like this would happen on our own soil,” said another community member. “It shouldn’t be, it just shouldn’t be.”
Moments after the guardsmen were shot, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and the president said they were going to deploy 500 more to D.C.