WASHINGTON (The Thursday Times) — A soldier guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery loudly reprimanded US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s group on Wednesday after some of its members were heard laughing near the memorial following a Veterans Day ceremony.
Video recorded by the television pool shows Hegseth, his wife, Jennifer, and senior aides posing for photographs and walking up the steps in front of the tomb. After a laugh is heard, the sentinel shouts: “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.” Hegseth glanced over his shoulder and kept walking.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the secretary and the department “have always honored” the sacrifices of service members. “While commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum,” he said.
One of America’s most solemn sites
The tomb marks the resting place of an unidentified American soldier killed in the First World War. Soldiers of the 3rd US Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard, have guarded it around the clock since 1948, and sentinels routinely remind noisy visitors to keep quiet, according to the US Army.
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance laid wreaths at the memorial during the ceremony, which Hegseth attended.
Adam Kinzinger, a former Republican congressman, called the episode “truly abhorrent” and said Hegseth was “completely unqualified for the job”.
A bruising week
The incident came a day after Hegseth survived an impeachment bid in the House of Representatives, where lawmakers voted 211 to 204 to send the charges to committee. The articles accused him of waging war on Iran without the approval of Congress, which he called “a farce”.
Trump has repeatedly said he stands by his defence secretary.
