A soldier on guard duty at Arlington National Cemetery has been awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal after he politely reminded US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and his party to maintain decorum at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The incident took place on November 11, Veterans Day, when Hegseth attended a ceremony at the cemetery alongside US President Donald Trump. Afterwards, the defence secretary, his wife and other officials posed for photographs at the memorial. Laughter was heard from the group during the photo session, and Soldier Thomas Iglesias, who was on duty at the site, courteously cautioned them to preserve the solemnity and calm of the place.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is regarded as one of the most sacred memorials in the United States, and soldiers of “The Old Guard” have kept watch over it continuously since 1948. The Pentagon strongly commended Iglesias for reminding the visitors that the sanctity of the site must be respected regardless of rank.
Hegseth personally pinned the medal on Iglesias’s uniform and shook his hand, and images of the moment spread widely on social media. “We have great respect for our soldiers, and standards of discipline are very important,” Hegseth said. The episode has been cited as a reminder that commitment to duty and discipline take precedence over rank.