President Trump on Tuesday awarded the Purple Heart to the National Guard member who was injured in an ambush attack in Washington in November and posthumously awarded the medal to the National Guard member who was killed in the same attack.
During his State of the Union speech, the president presented the medal to the family of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who was killed in the Nov. 26 attack just blocks from the White House. She died a day later, on Thanksgiving, at age 20.
He also presented the award to U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who was sitting in the House chamber for Mr. Trump’s speech.
“We love you all. Love you,” he said to Sgt. Wolfe and the family of Beckstrom.
Democrats who have not stood much during Mr. Trump’s remarks gave Sgt. Wolfe and the Beckstrom family a standing ovation.
Suspected shooter Rahmanullah Lakanwal was charged with murder. Federal prosecutors say he drove from his home in Washington state and “purposely and with deliberate and premeditated malice” shot the members of the West Virginia National Guard.
The president described Mr. Lakanwai as “a terrorist monster from Afghanistan.”
“Shouldn’t have been in the country at all,” Mr. Trump said.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.