On Veterans Day, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his party were reprimanded by a guard for making noise at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
On the 11th, Hegseth visited the tomb with his wife, Jennifer, and Chief of Staff Ricky Booria, laying a wreath before attending a nearby event. According to CBS News, the event was also attended by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
After the event, the group took a commemorative photo on the steps in front of the tomb. As they were leaving, laughter was heard from one of the attendees, prompting the guard to loudly remind them, "All visitors must always maintain silence and respect." It remains unclear who laughed or if Secretary Hegseth was among them.
Sean Parnell, the chief spokesperson for the Defense Department, told CBS News, "A soldier politely and accurately reminded everyone to maintain decorum."
It is not uncommon for guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to remind visitors to keep quiet. Sergeant Chadwick Winjitt, who is part of the regiment responsible for guarding the tomb, stated in a 2022 Army interview that guards typically address visitors two to three times a day.
On the 10th, Hegseth faced a setback as the House voted 211 to 204 to send an impeachment resolution against him to the Judiciary Committee, effectively stalling the vote.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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