GRAFTON, W.Va. – U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, a military police officer with the 863rd Military Police Company, West Virginia Army National Guard, was laid to rest with full military honors during a ceremony and interment Dec. 9 at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton, West Virginia.
Beckstrom, 20, died Nov. 27, after she was fatally wounded in a shooting attack the previous day while performing her duties near the Farragut Square Metro Station in Washington, D.C.
"As you look across these hills and out onto the rows of headstones, each stone a brick to the foundation of freedom upon which we stand today, I encourage you to remember this," said 111th Engineer Brigade Chaplain (Maj.) Christopher Bennett, as he presided over the ceremony. "No plots in the West Virginia National Cemeteries can be purchased. Each must be earned, and we know Spc. Sarah Backstrom has earned her place here among us today."
Beckstrom is survived by mother Evalea Beckstrom, father Gary Beckstrom, sisters Nicole and Christina and brothers Bryan and Wesley. The service was attended by family members, friends and dignitaries, including West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey; U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito; U.S. Sen. Jim Justice; U.S. Rep. Carol Miller; U.S. Rep. Riley Moore; U.S. Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau; U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Jon Stubbs, director of the Army National Guard; Maj. Gen. Jim Seward, West Virginia National Guard adjutant general; and Command Sgt. Maj. James Jones, West Virginia National Guard senior enlisted leader.
Sarah Diane Beckstrom was born May 17, 2005, and was a 2023 graduate with honors of Webster County High School. She enlisted in the West Virginia Army National Guard not long after graduating and completed basic and advanced training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, that summer.
In August, she and other members of the West Virginia National Guard, including members of her unit, were mobilized for service in Washington, D.C., as part of Operation D.C. Safe and Beautiful, which saw more than 2,000 Guardsmen from six states provide an additional security and safety presence at key locations in the District. Unit members described her as a quiet professional who exemplified dedication and always put others above herself. Many recalled her quick smile, infectious laughter and her ability to inspire others. She was an observant people-watcher who loved exploring and spent her off-duty hours in the District taking in museums and overall city life, her family members said.
Beckstrom was enrolled at Glenville State University and intended to pursue studies related to mental health. A passionate lover of animals, she was a “dog momma to one pup,” said family members, and was known to often carry snacks to share with squirrels she might encounter. She was shy, quiet and reserved until she got to know people, her family members said, and she loved music. Pasta was a favorite food, and she especially enjoyed playing arcade games.
An avid reader, she was especially drawn to poetry and was reading Rupi Kaur’s “milk and honey.” Family described her as “a gentle soul who loved and lived deeply,” and sought out human connections.
"There are many understandable responses to Sarah's tragic murder," Bennett said. "Anger, grief and confusion are natural and understandable, and God is big enough to handle all of those emotions and more. We can take comfort in knowing that God is just and that in the end, justice will be served."
Her military awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, West Virginia Legion of Merit, the D.C. Distinguished Service Medal and the D.C. Humanitarian Service Medal.
Funeral services were provided by Dodd & Reed Funeral Home in Webster Springs, West Virginia. Military honors were rendered by members of the 863rd Military Police Company and the West Virginia National Guard Honor Guard.