Guard Reprimands Defense Secretary Over Conduct at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, a soldier guarding the memorial verbally reprimanded Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his staff for failing to maintain silence and respect during a Veterans Day commemoration.
Detroit, MI, November 11, 2026 —
During a Veterans Day commemoration at Arlington National Cemetery, a soldier performing duties as the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier issued a verbal reprimand to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and members of his staff.
The incident occurred while the group was present at the memorial. The guard’s reprimand was reportedly in response to the Defense Secretary and his staff failing to maintain the required silence and respect at the solemn site.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a prominent memorial, and its guard is tasked with upholding a strict protocol of reverence and silence from all visitors, regardless of their status. The specific details of the interaction beyond the reprimand for a lack of silence and respect were not provided.
The identity of the specific soldier who issued the reprimand was not disclosed. Similarly, the precise nature of the actions by Secretary Hegseth and his staff that led to the reprimand, beyond a general failure to maintain silence and respect, were not detailed in the available information.
Arlington National Cemetery, and specifically the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, are sites where visitors are expected to observe a high degree of decorum. The guards at the Tomb are trained to enforce these standards rigorously.
Story summarized from the original created by Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press on www.clickondetroit.com, see more information here.
