An incident at Arlington National Cemetery has shown that American soldiers do not spare anyone, however senior, when the dignity of fallen heroes is at stake. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials were reprimanded by a guard during a Veterans Day programme.
Hegseth, his wife Jennifer, Chief of Staff Ricky Buria, Deputy Chief of Staff Patrick Weaver and others attended the event. They laid a tribute at the tomb of the fallen and posed for a group photograph. Afterwards, they began talking among themselves and laughed loudly, prompting the soldier on guard duty to respond. In a very loud voice, he said, “All visitors must maintain silence and a respectful atmosphere.” Hegseth’s group was stunned, and then quietly left the spot.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell responded to the incident, saying that, in keeping with the sanctity of the day, the soldier had correctly and responsibly asked that the dignity of the place be maintained.
The tomb Hegseth visited is that of unknown soldiers who died in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War, and it is regarded as one of the most sacred war memorials in the United States. It has been guarded round the clock since 1948 by guards of the US Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment, known in America as “The Old Guard.” The day before the incident, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance had also visited the tomb.