# Hegseth honors soldier who rebuked him at tomb

> After being chastised for loud behavior at Arlington, the Defense Secretary awards a medal to the sentinel who called him out.
- Title: Hegseth honors soldier who rebuked him at tomb · NPR
- Summary: After being chastised for loud behavior at Arlington, the Defense Secretary awards a medal to the sentinel who called him out.
- Keywords: pete hegseth, defense secretary, tomb of the unknown soldier, arlington national cemetery, thomas iglesias, veterans day, impeachment, NPR
- Source: NPR — https://npr.org/2026/11/13/nx-s1-6039845/hegseth-awards-medal-to-soldier-who-chastised-him
- Published: 2026-11-13T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pete hegseth, defense secretary, tomb of the unknown soldier, arlington national cemetery, thomas iglesias, veterans day, impeachment, news
## Hegseth faces rough week
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth survived an impeachment effort after Republicans rejected a resolution sponsored by Rep. Thomas Massie. He also faced criticism for disrespecting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
## Loud laughter at Arlington
On Veterans Day, November 11, 2026, Hegseth, his wife, and staffers visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near Washington D.C.to lay a wreath.Someone in the group laughed loudly, prompting a sentinel to shout.
## Sentinel enforces the rules
The sentinel on duty at Arlington National Cemetery shouted: "All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times!" The video spread on social media, drawing condemnation and mockery online.

> All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times!
## Hegseth awards the sentinel
On Thursday, Hegseth invited Spc. Thomas Iglesias to the Pentagon and honored him with the Joint Service Commendation Medal for his duties at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11, 2026.

> We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist.
## Key takeaway

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded a medal to the soldier who publicly rebuked him for disrespecting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, turning a viral embarrassment into a PR recovery.