Hegseth Awards Medal to Soldier Who Enforced Silence at Arlington
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth presented the Joint Service Commendation Medal to Specialist Thomas Iglesias, acknowledging the soldier's role in restoring decorum during the Veterans Day ceremony.
By Yara Nasser ·
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth presented the Joint Service Commendation Medal to Specialist Thomas Iglesias on Thursday. The award recognizes Iglesias for his actions at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11, 2026. The Pentagon confirmed the decision in a release.
Hegseth shared photographs on social media showing him pinning the medal to Iglesias's uniform. In the accompanying post, the Secretary wrote, "We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist." The citation specifically noted Iglesias' execution of duties at the memorial site.
The commendation follows an incident where Iglesias admonished Hegseth and members of his entourage. Video from the event shows the sentinel shouting for the group to "maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect." The group had been taking photos at the tomb when one person laughed, prompting the soldier's intervention. It was not immediately clear which member of the group produced the sound.
Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, addressed the situation in a statement. Parnell noted that the Department has always honored the sacrifices of military service members. He added that Iglesias correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum during the solemn commemoration.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery serves as a tribute to unidentified and missing service members. Three individuals are currently interred there: one from World War I, one from World War II, and one from the Korean War. The site is guarded continuously by sentinels from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard.
These sentinels are responsible for protecting the tomb 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They also monitor visitor conduct to ensure the memorial remains quiet and respectful. The award comes one day after the House blocked a resolution to impeach Hegseth. That effort sought to remove the Pentagon chief based on his conduct in office and handling of the war in Iran.
