Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday awarded a medal to the soldier who reprimanded his group for making noise at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans Day, the BBC and CBS News reported.
Video from Wednesday's observance at Arlington National Cemetery showed Hegseth, his wife and senior advisers laughing and talking while posing for photos in front of the tomb. The Army sentinel on duty, later identified as Specialist Thomas Iglesias, stepped toward the group and shouted: "All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times." CBS said the group included Hegseth's chief of staff and other aides, and that someone laughed before the reprimand.
On Thursday, a Pentagon official told CBS that Hegseth "welcomed the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, the Old Guard, to the Pentagon where he proudly awarded Specialist Iglesias the Joint Service Commendation Medal for the execution of his duties at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11, 2026." Photos on Hegseth's X account showed him pinning the medal to Iglesias's chest, with other members of the regiment looking on. "We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist. Carry on Patriots," Hegseth wrote.
The tomb, and how often guards speak up
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier marks the grave of an unknown service member killed in World War I and is among the country's most sacred war memorials. A service member from the 3rd Infantry Regiment has stood watch 24 hours a day since 1948. Arlington etiquette asks visitors to speak quietly and avoid disrespectful or disorderly conduct. It is not unusual for sentinels to admonish visitors; CBS, citing an Army interview in 2022, said they do so two or three times a day, and the BBC said they reportedly do so a few times a day.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said: "While commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum. The Secretary and the entire Department have always honoured — and will always honour — the sacrifices our military men and women have made to keep America safe."
Earlier on Veterans Day, President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other officials attended the annual wreath-laying at the cemetery. In his speech, Trump thanked service members and touted what he described as success in the Iran war: "Under this administration, and it was about time, somebody fought back. All of us fought back." He added, "And we won. It's just a question of when we want to end it. We want to make sure we have a total victory, not a 93% victory." Trump also pointed out Hegseth, saying he had done a "fantastic job."
The BBC noted that Trump has repeatedly defended Hegseth amid a Democratic push to impeach him. On Tuesday, an effort to impeach the defense secretary over accusations that he waged war on Iran without congressional authorization failed on Capitol Hill, a fight already covered in earlier reporting. Hegseth has called the impeachment efforts a "farce" and a "stunt." Thursday's medal ceremony does not change that political fight; it is Hegseth's public response to being told, on camera, to keep quiet at the tomb.