House Passes Resolution Honoring National Guardsmen
The House of Representatives unanimously approved a resolution honoring two National Guard soldiers who were attacked in Washington, D.C., last month.
This bill, which passed through a voice vote on Monday afternoon, didn’t require individual roll calls from lawmakers.
Twenty-year-old Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and twenty-four-year-old Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolf were shot just a short distance from the White House. Federal authorities are treating the incident as a terrorist act.
The alleged shooter is an Afghan refugee who resettled in the U.S. through Operation Welcome Allies during the 2021 troop withdrawal from Kabul.
Push for Enhanced Vetting of Afghan Refugees
Both parties voiced their support for the resolution, with West Virginia Representatives Carol Miller and Riley Moore leading the charge—an exceptional display of bipartisanship in today’s climate.
“Officer Beckstrom and Staff Sergeant Wolf of the West Virginia National Guard were targeted and severely injured while simply performing their duties in the nation’s capital,” stated Rep. Rob Whitman, a Republican from Virginia.
“Both men sustained significant gunshot injuries. Tragically, Specialist Beckstrom succumbed to her injuries on Thanksgiving Day, surrounded by her loved ones. Staff Sergeant Wolf is still in recovery, and we wish him a smooth path to healing.”
Injured Soldier Described as a ‘Miracle’
Rep. Jill Tokuda, a Democrat from Hawaii, remarked on Beckstrom’s brief yet impactful life, stating, “Though it was short, her legacy will endure.”
Tokuda continued, saying, “Specialist Beckstrom and Sergeant Wolf embody the finest attributes of our nation. They are young Americans driven by service, compassion, and duty. Their commitment to serve their communities and country exemplifies the highest ideals of the military and civil service.”
Miller labeled the shooting a “targeted attack on U.S. military personnel.”
Moore recounted his experience meeting Beckstrom’s parents at her funeral in Grafton, West Virginia, expressing, “As a father, it was heartbreaking to see her father grieving. I’m at a loss for words.”
While the resolution holds symbolic significance, it stands as a testament to the desire for unity among Republicans and Democrats in response to a tragic national event.
