US Defense Secretary rewards soldier who reprimanded him for making noise at memorial

The Secretary of Defense of the United States, Pete Hegseth, awarded this Thursday (12) the soldier who reprimanded him, the day before, for laughing and talking near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, at Arlington National Cemetery, in Virginia, during a Veterans Day ceremony.

Hegseth presented the Joint Service Commendation Medal to the soldier, a member of the Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment. The ceremony took place at the Pentagon, one day after the soldier drew the attention of the secretary and members of his entourage for violating the memorial's rules of silence.

The episode gained repercussion on social media after a video showed the soldier, named Iglesias, interrupting his patrol to demand silence and warn the group about the local rules. "All visitors must maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times," he shouted.

Hegseth was accompanied by his wife, Jennifer, chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver and aide Tami Radabaugh. After posing for photographs near the monument, the group was heard talking and laughing. The delegation continued the visit normally after the soldier's shout.

After presenting the medal, Hegseth published photos of the ceremony on his networks and praised the soldier for carrying out his duties during his guard duty. "We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, expert. Move on, patriots," he wrote.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located in the center of Arlington National Cemetery and is considered one of the most important military memorials in the United States. The site houses the remains of three unidentified American soldiers, including a World War I combatant, and is dedicated to the memory of soldiers killed in conflicts. The guard operates 24 hours a day.

The Pentagon spoke out about the episode. Ministry spokesman Sean Parnell stated that the secretary and the Department of Defense have always honored the sacrifices of the American military. "During the honoring of this solemn date, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone of the need to maintain composure," he said.

The incident occurred at a time of political pressure on Hegseth. This week, the House of Representatives rejected an impeachment attempt presented by a Republican congressman.

At a press conference at the Pentagon, on Tuesday (10), hours before the vote, Hegseth classified the initiative as a farce and defended his management. Among the controversial points of his actions are support for the war against Iran, attacks on vessels suspected of transporting drugs in Latin American waters and the dismissal of high-ranking military officers.