Defense Secretary Commends Soldier for Upholding Standards

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded a soldier for his actions during a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. The soldier had reprimanded Hegseth’s group for their behavior at a solemn site.

During the ceremony, the group was scolded for laughing near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This site is a sacred memorial that honors unidentified American service members who died in war.

A guard from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, the Army’s oldest active-duty infantry unit, firmly reminded the visitors to maintain silence and respect.

Following the event, Hegseth praised the soldier. He shared on X, ‘We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist. Carry on Patriots.’

Hegseth later welcomed the 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, to the Pentagon. There, he awarded Specialist Iglesias the Joint Service Commendation Medal. Iglesias was recognized for his duties at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11, 2026.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell also applauded the soldier’s actions. Parnell emphasized the importance of maintaining decorum on this solemn day. ‘A soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone of this,’ he said in a statement to HuffPost.