US Defense Secretary Awards Medal to Soldier Who Enforced Silence at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded a medal to the soldier who reprimanded him and his entourage for disruptive behavior at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. The incident occurred after a Veterans Day ceremony when loud conversations and laughter were heard as Hegseth's group departed. Guard Thomas Iglesias reminded visitors of the required silence and respect, with the exchange captured on video and widely shared online. Hegseth presented Iglesias with the Joint Service Commendation Medal at the Pentagon on Thursday, praising him on social media. The Pentagon had earlier defended the soldier's actions, noting the site has been continuously guarded since 1937.