Hegseth honors sentinel who enforced Tomb of the Unknown Soldier rules
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded a medal Thursday to Army Specialist Thomas Iglesias, a sentinel who publicly rebuked Hegseth and his aides for violating decorum outside the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans Day. Hegseth posted a photo of him pinning the medal on Iglesias, writing "We love soldiers. We love standards." The incident stemmed from a viral video showing Hegseth, his wife, and aides taking pictures and laughing on the memorial's steps, prompting Iglesias to shout that all visitors must maintain silence and respect. The Tomb is a sacred site guarded 24 hours daily, and the award comes as Hegseth faces political pressure, including a rejected impeachment effort and promises of investigation from incoming Democratic leaders.