Sarah Beckstrom remembered at State of the Union as Guard members receive Purple Heart
The parents of sarah beckstrom, the 20-year-old West Virginia National Guard member killed while patrolling Washington, D. C., will be among the special guests at President Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday, part of a recognition that also saw fellow Guardsman Andrew Wolfe awarded a Purple Heart.
Sarah Beckstrom's parents to attend State of the Union
Evalea and Gary Beckstrom will sit as guests in the U. S. Capitol during the speech, White House. The announcement was updated on February 24, 2026, at 5: 04 p. m. EST. Mr. Trump intends to acknowledge the Beckstroms during the portion of his address on the southern border and homeland security.
Wolfe awarded Purple Heart and sat near Beckstrom family
President Trump recognized Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe and the late Sarah Beckstrom during the State of the Union and presented a Purple Heart. Wolfe, joined by his mother, sat across the aisle from the family of Sarah Beckstrom. Pentagon officials had announced in early February that both would receive the award.
Wolfe, 24, underwent surgery after the shooting and is recovering. Beckstrom, 20, was one of two West Virginia National Guard members shot not far from the White House on Nov. 26; other accounts place the incident near D. C. 's Farragut Square. The suspect, described as an Afghan national, pleaded not guilty this month to multiple charges, including first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill tied to the two Guard members who subdued him at the scene. "He went cuckoo. I mean, he went nuts, " Mr. Trump has said of the shooter. "It happens too often with these people. "
How Beckstrom served before the deployment
Before her deployment, Sarah Beckstrom worked for a behavioral health agency supporting people at risk of psychiatric hospitalization. She volunteered to serve in the Trump administration's D. C. National Guard deployment and was assigned to the 863rd Military Police Company, 111th Engineer Brigade at the time of the shooting.
Dalilah Coleman among guests highlighted during border portion
Another guest at the speech will be 7-year-old Dalilah Coleman, who was critically injured in a six-car pileup in California that White House officials say was allegedly caused by a truck driver who was in the country illegally. Dalilah’s parents, Marcus Coleman and Ileana Krause, have said that when Dalilah was 5 a commercial tractor-trailer crashed into the car she was riding in, fracturing her skull, breaking her femur and causing a traumatic brain injury.
The Department of Homeland Security said the driver, Partap Singh, a man from India who was undocumented, was driving with a valid California driver's license and failed to stop for traffic and a construction zone. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials took Singh into custody in August 2025. Since emerging from a coma after the crash, Dalilah has been recovering but remains nonverbal and has diplegic cerebral palsy, her family has said.
Other national headlines noted alongside the recognition
The coverage that noted the recognition of West Virginia Guard members also included several unrelated national items: JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon warned about financial risks at the firm's annual investor day meeting; the 30-year mortgage rate remains below 6 percent, tempting home buyers and refinancers; and mortgage rates were described as near four-year lows even as Federal Reserve rate cuts remain on pause. Readers were advised to shop multiple lenders for the best rate.
Sports and culture items appearing alongside the story included Jacob Bridgeman winning on the PGA Tour after starting the day with a six-shot lead; a note that if released, Williams would become a coveted free agent for teams seeking offensive-line help; Darryn Peterson appearing to be fine on Monday night after several struggles; Skimo making its Olympic debut; Floyd Mayweather, 49, stepping back in the ring to rematch Manny Pacquiao; Kuminga taking over for Atlanta after a first-quarter injury to Jalen Johnson and finishing a blowout win over the Wizards with a game-high 27 points; and a note that in 2026 some lenders may drop minimum credit score requirements for mortgages and will look at nontraditional credit factors.
Pentagon officials' early-February announcement, the State of the Union recognitions and the scheduled attendance of Evalea and Gary Beckstrom set the immediate public timeline. The State of the Union address is Tuesday; Mr. Trump is expected to acknowledge the guests during his remarks on the southern border and homeland security.
