National Guardsman Andrew Wolfe honored at State of the Union as families and other honorees attend
A national Guardsman shot while on patrol near the White House received the Purple Heart during President Trump's State of the Union address Tuesday night, as families and multiple service members and an Olympic athlete were publicly recognized.
National Guardsman Andrew Wolfe receives Purple Heart
Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, was awarded the Purple Heart in the House chamber and the medal was pinned to his lapel during the address Tuesday night. President Trump recognized Wolfe and his mother, Melody, and Major General James D. Seward with the West Virginia National Guard presented Wolfe with the award.
Details of the November ambush near the White House
Wolfe and Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, members of the West Virginia National Guard, were ambushed and shot while on patrol near the White House in November. The shooting occurred just before 2: 15 p. m. on Nov. 26 near the intersection of 17th Street and I Street NW. Beckstrom died in the attack; Wolfe was critically injured and taken to the hospital in serious condition.
Wolfe had been deputized to continue his patrols less than a day before the shooting and had entered service in 2019, the West Virginia National Guard said. He remained hospitalized in December, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morissey reported, and on Dec. 12, 2025, the West Virginia National Guard announced he was breathing on his own and could stand up with assistance. Wolfe was later transferred to a rehabilitation facility; his family chose not to disclose the location and it is unclear in the provided context exactly when he was released.
Arrest, charges and court actions
Officials arrested Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, at the scene. Lakanwal was originally charged under the D. C. criminal code with first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill while armed and assault with intent to kill. The U. S. Attorney for D. C., Jeanine Pirro, also filed federal charges. Court documents list two federal counts: transporting or receiving firearms in interstate or foreign commerce with the intent to commit an offense, and transporting or shipping a stolen firearm in interstate or foreign commerce. An Afghan national arrested in connection with the shooting pleaded not guilty earlier this month to federal charges.
Other honorees and moments in the chamber
President Trump honored several service members and one Olympic athlete with awards that included the Purple Heart, the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Legion of Merit and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Connor Hellebuyck, goalie for the U. S. men's hockey team, was named for the Presidential Medal of Freedom after his goalkeeping helped the U. S. defeat Canada 2-1 in the gold-medal game of the Winter Olympics on Sunday, giving the U. S. its first men's hockey gold since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" team. Hellebuyck and his teammates met with Mr. Trump at the White House earlier Tuesday before attending the State of the Union and received a roaring ovation from lawmakers.
Navy Capt. E. Royce Williams, age 100, received the Medal of Honor for heroics during a 1952 aerial confrontation off the coast of the Korean Peninsula, in which he shot down four Soviet MiG-15 jets during a 35-minute dogfight with seven Soviet jets; the engagement remained secret for about a half-century and has been called one of the longest aerial engagements in U. S. Navy history. Williams received a several-minute standing ovation while First Lady Melania Trump presented the award.
Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover was presented with the Medal of Honor for wounds suffered during the operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro. Mr. Trump said Slover was the pilot in the first Chinook helicopter that descended on Maduro's military compound in the middle of the night and that Slover was "hit very badly in the leg and hip" while preparing to land. The president also said, "With God's help, Andrew has battled back from the edge of death, " and described Beckstrom's service and the moment she was ambushed and shot.
Families, recognitions and official statements
Beckstrom's family was in attendance Tuesday night and was awarded a posthumous Purple Heart on their daughter's behalf. The president said Beckstrom had voluntarily extended her service after a four-month deployment and that her rank was due to be raised; he described her being ambushed and shot in the head. Wolfe was recognized in the chamber alongside his family.
The publicly available account was updated on February 25, 2026, at 7: 28 a. m. EST and included the list of awards and the names of those honored. It is unclear in the provided context what the next scheduled public milestones or court dates are following the arraignments and hospital updates described above.
