Sarah Beckstrom, age 20, and Andrew Wolfe, age 24, are the two West Virginia-based National Guard members who were shot in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 26. Sarah didn’t survive. Andrew lies in critical condition and, hopefully, will live. My heart goes out to them and their loved ones.

We need the retired military and now congressional members to next put out a video telling soldiers what to specifically do to not obey illegal orders. Should they respectfully tell their commanding officers on site, “I cannot follow an unlawful order” and then walk away? Should they do that prior to showing up for duty, perhaps even via email? Should they go to their elected senators’ offices and tell them? Should they go to a local police station and tell them? Do they become situational conscientious objectors? How does one do that?

I doubt if any soldier ever receives that training, and most of us couldn’t even begin to advise them. Help these honorable individuals know how to do that without throwing everything that they have worked for, serving in the Guard, under the bus. 

Sarah Beckstrom could still be alive if she had refused to follow the order by the president to go to the Capitol, especially since active military leaders lack the backbone to do it.

Tess Holom Schneier
Kittery