Twenty-year-old Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, a West Virginia National Guard member who was killed in Wednesday’s Washington, D.C., shooting, was remembered Friday by devastated colleagues at Seneca Health Services, a behavioral-health agency based in West Virginia, where she worked prior to her deployment.
“She had a passion for serving people,” Marcie Vaughan, CEO of Seneca Health Services, told CBS News. “Her decision to join the National Guard and to become a member of the behavioral health profession … that requires a person to have compassion. The fact she volunteered shows courage and dedication.”
Beckstrom worked for Seneca as a community engagement specialist from January until she voluntarily deployed to D.C. around August.
Her job focused on supporting clients at risk of psychiatric hospitalization, helping them remain stable and connected to care.
“She worked with individuals who had behavioral health issues…She would establish meaningful relationships and find what they needed to stay in the community,” Vaughan said.
Coworkers described Beckstrom as energetic, funny, and quick to laugh.
“Her coworkers would tell you she had a great sense of humor,” Vaughan recalled. “She loved being part of the community. She would frequently go to events, engage others, and share resources that might positively impact their lives.”