Army sentinel sharply reprimands Hegseth's group at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans Day
An Army sentinel at Arlington Cemetery called for silence after laughter was heard from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's group following a Veterans Day ceremony.
The incident unfolded shortly after President Trump left the memorial following a wreath-laying ceremony around 12:28 p.m. Hegseth and members of his entourage, including his wife Jennifer Hegseth, began taking photos and posing on the memorial steps around 12:29 p.m. Roughly a minute later, laughter could be heard as the group departed, prompting a soldier guarding the tomb to issue a sharp reminder.
Soldier's Response
The sentinel immediately addressed the gathering, stating: 'All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.' The instruction came around 12:30 p.m., after Trump had already departed the ceremony.
All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.
Pentagon's Statement
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell responded to the incident in a statement to Fox News, emphasizing the department's commitment to honoring fallen service members. While acknowledging the sentinel's intervention, Parnell defended the Secretary's respect for military sacrifices.
Tomb Sentinels
The soldiers who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are known as sentinels and belong to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as The Old Guard. According to Arlington National Cemetery, sentinels stand watch at the tomb 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, regardless of weather conditions.
The highly selective assignment requires extensive training, including memorizing cemetery history, mastering ceremonial procedures and maintaining strict standards of military appearance and conduct. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier honors unidentified American service members who died in military conflicts and serves as a focal point of Veterans Day commemorations.
Related
