Hegseth honors soldier who disciplined him at Arlington Cemetery
cnn.com —
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded a Joint Service Commendation Medal on Thursday to the soldier who reprimanded him and his staff for being disruptive at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The medal went to Spc. Thomas Iglesias, who on Wednesday called out "All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times" after Hegseth's group was heard laughing and chatting during photos following a Veterans Day ceremony. Pentagon officials confirmed the award, with Hegseth praising the soldier's adherence to standards. The incident occurred at Arlington National Cemetery, where sentinels from The Old Guard have maintained a 24/7 vigil since 1948, routinely correcting visitors who violate the site's strict decorum rules.