Defense Secretary Honors Soldier for Maintaining Protocol at National Memorial

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth honored a soldier from The Old Guard who reminded him and his entourage to maintain silence near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans Day. Specialist Iglesias of the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment received the Joint Service Commendation Medal during a Pentagon ceremony on Thursday.

The accolade came a day after Iglesias publicly reminded Hegseth and his staff to observe quiet and respect at Arlington National Cemetery. Hegseth acknowledged Iglesias’s actions in a social media post along with photos from the ceremony, stating, ‘We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist. Carry on Patriots.’

“All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times,” Iglesias reminded the group near the memorial, prompting the award.

An official from the Pentagon confirmed that Hegseth visited the Pentagon to present the award to Iglesias for his duty performance at the Tomb. The incident happened on Wednesday after Hegseth attended the Veterans Day ceremony at the cemetery, where he was seen taking photographs with his entourage, including his wife and several staff members. This group was overheard talking and laughing near the memorial, leading Iglesias to remind them of the decorum required at the site.

Footage of the encounter circulated online, causing bipartisan criticism of the defense secretary. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell defended Iglesias’s actions as both correct and respectful.

Importance of Silence at a Sacred Memorial

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is one of the United States’ most revered military memorials, commemorating American service members who lost their lives in war without being identified. Since 1948, soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Regiment, also known as The Old Guard, have been tasked with guarding the tomb continuously. The guards follow a specific routine that involves marching 21 steps and pausing for 21 seconds before repeating.

The silence and respect maintained at the site are crucial, with guards expected to correct visitors who do not adhere to these rules. The medal presentation to Specialist Iglesias marks a significant development in the discussion around Hegseth’s Veterans Day visit, as the defense secretary chose to honor the soldier whose actions received considerable media attention.

This is a developing story, with more updates expected. Newsweek has reached out to the Pentagon for further comments.