Hegseth gives medal to soldier who reprimanded his group for laughing at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded a medal to the U.S. serviceman who reprimanded his entourage Wednesday for laughing at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.Hegseth shared photos of the medal presentation Thursday in a post on X, praising the soldier for upholding military standards“We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist. Carry on Patriots,” Hegseth wrote.Hegseth welcomed the 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, to the Pentagon “where he proudly awarded Specialist [Thomas] Iglesias the Joint Service Commendation Medal for the execution of his duties at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11, 2026,” CNN confirmed, citing a Pentagon official.After attending a Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday, Hegseth, his wife and several staff members, including chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh, stopped to take photos in front of the tomb. As some members of the group were heard laughing and chatting afterward, Iglesias, who was on patrol, stopped and turned toward them.Hegseth gives medal to soldier who reprimanded his group for laughing at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (X/@SecWar)“All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times,” he called out.Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell later said Iglesias “correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum,” according to CNN.The moment quickly went viral, with social media users blasting Hegseth and his group for laughing at a memorial where visitors are expected to show respect.The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is one of the nation's most sacred war memorials, honoring unidentified American service members who died in combat. Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, have guarded the tomb around the clock since 1948.Maintaining silence and respect is part of the sentinels' duties, and they are expected to correct visitors who become too loud or fail to follow the memorial's rules.