Sentinel Reprimands Hegseth’s Group for Noise at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
A soldier guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier loudly reprimanded a group that included Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, after laughter broke the silence at one of America’s most solemn memorials.
The incident took place at Arlington National Cemetery during Veterans Day commemorations across the country. Hegseth, his wife Jennifer and several senior aides had posed for photographs on the marble steps in front of the tomb after a wreath-laying ceremony. As the group began to walk away, a laugh could be heard — and the sentinel on duty stopped his patrol, turned towards them and called out: “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.”
It is not clear who in the group laughed, or whether Hegseth himself made any noise.
The moment at the tomb
Hegseth was photographed with his wife, Jennifer, his chief of staff, Ricky Buria, his deputy chief of staff, Patrick Weaver, and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh. The exchange was captured on the live network pool feed stationed at the tomb for the earlier ceremony and was aired by CNN, which first reported the incident.
The sentinel’s words are the standard instruction that soldiers guarding the tomb are trained to deliver whenever the silence is broken. The instruction applies to every visitor, whatever their rank.
According to the Associated Press, the group had been laughing and talking after the photographs were taken, prompting the soldier to intervene.
Pentagon defends the sentinel
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the soldier had acted correctly. “The Secretary and the entire Department have always honored — and will always honor — the sacrifices our military men and women have made to keep America safe,” Parnell said. “While commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum.”
Hegseth did not respond to the sentinel and continued up the steps, according to reports of the footage.
A ceremony under close watch
The Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington was attended by President Donald Trump, who laid a wreath at the tomb, and Vice President JD Vance. The commemorations came a day after the House voted 211-204 to shelve an impeachment push against him, a vote that followed days of criticism of the defence secretary’s conduct in office.
Speaking on Tuesday morning, Hegseth had said of the impeachment resolutions: “On the eve of Veterans Day, these resolutions tell every one of them that their service was a crime.”
Arlington itself has been in the headlines in recent weeks over a proposed 250-foot arch over Arlington, a plan that has drawn lawsuits from the Kennedy family and others.
The tomb and its guard
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier holds the remains of unidentified American service members from the First World War, the Second World War and the Korean War. It has been guarded around the clock — in all weathers — by soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard, since 1948.
Visitors are expected to remain silent and respectful at all times, and sentinels are authorised to correct anyone who breaks that silence. The guard’s patrol, the changing of the guard and the silence itself are part of a ritual that has made the tomb one of the most revered sites in American military life.
Wednesday’s episode was a reminder of how strictly that tradition is kept — and that it applies to everyone who visits, including the man who runs the Pentagon.
