Sarah Beckstrom lived only 20 years, but in that short time she carried a courageous sense of duty far beyond her age. A native of Webster Springs, West Virginia, Sarah answered the call to serve her country when she joined the West Virginia National Guard in June 2023. On Wednesday, during a deployment to Washington, D.C., as part of a federal crime-fighting initiative, she was struck down in what authorities have described as a targeted, ambush-style attack just blocks from the White House.

President Donald Trump confirmed her passing on Thanksgiving, describing Sarah as “highly respected, young, [and] magnificent.” Gov. Patrick Morrisey said she served “with courage, extraordinary resolve, and an unwavering sense of duty to her state and to her nation.”

To Sarah’s family, she was more than a soldier. She was a daughter, a friend, and a dedicated Christian. Her father, Gary, held her hand in her final hours. “She has a mortal wound,” he said. “It’s not going to be a recovery.” No parent imagines having to say goodbye this way.

In moments like these, West Virginians always come together. We rally around our own. And today, Sarah’s parents need the support of the community she served with such conviction.

As publisher of Mountaineer Journal, I am launching this fundraising effort to help the Beckstrom family shoulder the heavy and immediate burdens ahead—funeral expenses, travel, and the many unforeseen costs that come with a tragedy of this magnitude. Whatever amount is raised, I will personally ensure that 100 percent of all proceeds go directly to Sarah’s parents.

This is our chance to honor Sarah’s sacrifice in a meaningful way. She stepped forward to protect others—now we can step forward for her family. Any gift, no matter the amount, makes a difference.

Thank you for helping us lift up a family whose daughter gave her life in service to her state and her country. May we show them the same love and steadfastness that Sarah showed all of us.