American Legion Commander Sanders Silvagni delivers his remarks during Nashua's Memorial Day ceremony on May 25. Telegraph photo by CHRISTOPHER ROBERSON

NASHUA – During this year’s Memorial Day ceremony, American Legion Commander Sanders Silvagni called to mind the service and sacrifice of Spc. Sara Beckstrom, Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe and Staff Sgt. William Pitsenbarger.

Under orders from President Donald Trump, Beckstrom, 20, and Wolfe, 24, were patrolling the Farragut Square Metro Station in Washington, D.C. when they were ambushed on the afternoon of Nov. 26, 2025. Beckstrom died the following day and was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart earlier this year.

At the time of her death, Beckstrom had served for more than two years with the West Virginia Army National Guard and was assigned to the 863rd Military Police Company of the 111th Engineer Brigade.

Wolfe, who was serving with the West Virginia Air National Guard, was shot in the head. He underwent skull reconstruction surgery and continues to recover. Wolfe was awarded a Purple Heart and threw out the ceremonial first pitch during the May 18 baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets.

The alleged gunman, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwa, is charged with three counts of assault with the intent to kill while armed, criminal possession of a weapon and first degree murder. If convicted, Lakanwa could face the death penalty.

Pitsenbarger, 21, was an Air Force pararescueman during the Vietnam War. He was killed during the Battle of Xã Cẩm Mỹ on April 11, 1966.

That day, Pitsenbarger’s unit, Detachment 6 of the 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, was ordered to evacuate U.S. casualties from the Army’s First Infantry Division. During the rescue operation, Pitsenbarger lowered himself 100 feet from the helicopter into the jungle with bullets flying all around him. He ultimately evacuated nine fallen and 60 wounded soldiers. In the process, Pitsenbarger was wounded three times and refused his own evacuation nine times. He was later killed by Viet Cong sniper fire.

“His body was found with his rifle in one hand and his medical bag in the other,” Silvagni said during the May 25 ceremony.

Pitsenbarger was posthumously promoted from airman first class to staff sergeant. He was also awarded the Air Force Cross and the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Silvagni said that “from Bunker Hill to Baghdad,” 1.2 million Americans have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country.

“We are here for them,” he said. “We do not forget, no one can replace these fallen heroes.”