US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and a group he was with were reprimanded by a sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday. The incident followed a wreath-laying ceremony marking Veterans Day.
Hegseth had joined the group for a photo and someone laughed, prompting the US Army sentinel guarding the tomb to shout. “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times”, the sentinel said.
According to the BBC’s US partner, CBS News, the people in the photo before the reprimand also included Hegseth’s advisers Patrick Weaver and Tami Radabaugh, Hegseth’s chief of staff Ricky Buria and Hegseth’s wife Jennifer Hegseth.
“While commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum,” Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.
