WEBSTER SPRINGS — Mountaineer Journal has launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist the family of Sarah Beckstrom, the 20-year-old West Virginia National Guard member who died Thursday after being shot in an ambush-style attack near the White House.
The fundraiser was created under the direction of Mountaineer Journal publisher Caiden Cowger, who said that 100 percent of all proceeds will go directly to Beckstrom’s parents to help cover potential funeral costs and other immediate expenses.
“Sarah served her state and her country with courage and conviction,” Cowger said. “In this moment of unimaginable loss, our only focus is supporting her family in every way possible.”
Beckstrom, of Webster Springs, was one of two Guard members shot Wednesday while deployed to Washington, D.C., as part of a federal crime-fighting initiative. President Donald Trump announced her death Thursday, calling her a “highly respected” and “magnificent” young soldier. The second guardsman, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, remains hospitalized in critical condition.
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey also confirmed Beckstrom’s death, praising her “extraordinary resolve and unwavering sense of duty.”
Cowger said the decision to create the fundraiser followed an outpouring of messages from West Virginians asking how they could help the Beckstrom family.
“People across the state are grieving alongside them,” Cowger said. “This is one way we can come together to honor Sarah’s life and ease the burden on her parents as they navigate the days ahead.”
Beckstrom joined the West Virginia National Guard in June 2023.
