A U.S. Army sentry guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier loudly reprimanded U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his top aides on Wednesday after some members of the group were heard laughing and talking near the memorial following a Veterans Day ceremony.
According to video captured by the television network pool, Hegseth was with his wife, Jennifer, Chief of Staff Ricky Buria, Deputy Chief of Staff Patrick Weaver and Senior Advisor and Deputy Assistant Tami Radabaugh walking up the steps in front of the memorial after posing for photos. Laughter is heard, prompting the guard to shout, “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.” » Hegseth looked over his shoulder at the soldier as he continued up the steps.
Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement: “The Secretary and the entire Department have always honored – and always will honor – the sacrifices our service men and women have made to keep America safe.
“While commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to observe decorum.”
Hegseth and his team were at the cemetery for a Veterans Day ceremony also attended by Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who both laid wreaths at the memorial honoring the fallen soldiers and gave speeches afterward.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery is one of the nation’s most sacred war monuments, marking the final resting place of an unknown soldier killed during World War I. An Army sentry from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment – also known as the Old Guard – has guarded the tomb 24 hours a day, rain or shine, since 1948.
In an article posted on the U.S. Army website, Staff Sergeant Chadwick Winget, emergency commander, said visitors rarely intentionally disturb the peace, but sentries are always ready to respond when rules are broken. On average, sentries address noisy crowds about two to three times a day.
“It’s usually just that they don’t realize it,” Wingnet said of some visitors. “They talk without realizing how loud they are talking, or laughing or making jokes within their group. This harms other people who are trying to pay tribute to them.”
Former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger called the incident “truly heinous” and condemned Hegseth as “totally incompetent for this position.”
“Pete Hegseth doesn’t know how to behave, even at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery,” Kinzinger wrote on
In a video clip attached to the post, Kinzinger added of Hegseth: “For him, it’s all a show. For him, it’s all about attention… He’s completely unqualified for this job.”
In other comments on CNN, Kinzinger said he couldn’t imagine taking a photo at the memorial, much less talking and laughing. Kinzinger also praised the sentry guard for doing his job. “It’s very embarrassing for (Hegseth), and at the same time I’m very proud of the fact that our country respected these rules, even in the face of the Secretary of Defense,” he said.
The sacrifices associated with guarding the memorial and keeping the site solemn are “an astonishing testament to how we honor the people who have made sacrifices for this country… and one of the very few places we hold sacred,” he added.
The incident comes just a day after Hegseth narrowly avoided impeachment. House Republicans successfully blocked efforts to impeach the defense secretary, rejecting allegations that he repeatedly violated the Constitution in his handling of the Iran war and other global conflicts.
The 211-204 vote came a week after Republicans dramatically lost control of the Senate and House of Representatives in their worst midterm elections in more than half a century, and underscored how lawmakers remain cautious of Trump, who has signaled his continued support for Hegseth.
Thomas Massie, a Republican congressman who lost his primary election after breaking with the president, proposed in September to impeach Hegseth, alleging a range of illegal acts, including the killing of civilians in Iran, launching unauthorized operations in Venezuela and Yemen and retaliation against a Democratic senator.
Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to become House speaker in the next Congress, supported efforts to impeach Hegseth, accusing the embattled secretary of “undermining America’s national security.”
Gn usa
