Dave Mistich

Most everywhere around Martinsburg, West Virginia, was closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.

But in the handful of bars and restaurants that were open yesterday evening, Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe were on many minds.

Amy Fraley was behind the bar at the Big Apple Lounge in Inwood.

Jason Barrett serves the Martinsburg area as a Republican in the West Virginia Senate.

Barrett says the conversation is warranted on the Guard's continued deployment to D.C., but he says the shooting also does show the need for the nation's capital to be kept safe.

For now, though, he says his focus, like others here I spoke with, is on supporting the Wolfe and Beckstrom families.

Dave Mistich, NPR News, Martinsburg, West Virginia.