Governor Youngkin orders flags to be lowered in honor of soldier Sarah Beckstrom

RICHMOND, Va. In honor of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom of the West Virginia Army National Guard, President Donald Trump has commanded that the U.S. flag be displayed at half-staff. This applies to the White House, all federal buildings, military installations, naval stations, and naval vessels across the United States, its territories, and possessions until sunset on December 4, 2025.

Beckstrom, aged 20, was fatally wounded in a shooting in Washington, D.C., while serving in the capital as part of a National Guard deployment addressing local crime. Another National Guard member, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, was also injured in the same incident but is currently recovering.

Following the presidential directive, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin ordered that both the United States and Commonwealth of Virginia flags be lowered to half-staff on all state and local government buildings and grounds on December 4, 2025, in tribute to Specialist Beckstroms service and sacrifice.

Author: Zoe Harrison