Defense Secretary Awards Medal to Soldier Who Enforced Cemetery Respect

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded a Joint Service Commendation Medal to a soldier who scolded him and his group for laughing at Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a Veterans Day ceremony. The guard, Specialist Iglesias, sternly reminded the group to maintain silence and respect at the sacred site, which is protected 24 hours daily by the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment. Hegseth praised the soldier on X, saying "We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist." A Pentagon official confirmed Hegseth welcomed The Old Guard to the Pentagon to present the medal for the soldier's duty execution on Nov. 11, 2026. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell also commended the guard for correctly and respectfully enforcing decorum.


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