Pentagon backs war memorial guard who reprimanded Hegseth's group
The guard told the defence secretary and his companions to maintain an atmosphere of "silence and respect" during a Veterans Day visit.
Noticia publicada originalmente por BBC News — World en bbc.co.uk (se abre en una pestaña nueva). Minuto 24 no es autor de este contenido.
Claves de la noticia
- El Pentágono respalda a un soldado del Ejército de EE. UU. que reprendió al grupo del secretario de Defensa, Pete Hegseth, en el Cementerio Nacional de Arlington.
- Un video del acto del Día de los Veteranos mostró a Hegseth, su esposa y asesores riendo y conversando mientras posaban frente a la Tumba del Soldado Desconocido.
- El centinela les pidió en voz alta mantener un ambiente de silencio y respeto, según las imágenes difundidas.
- Hegseth entregó al especialista Thomas Iglesias la Medalla Conjunta de Servicio por cumplir con sus deberes en la tumba.
- El portavoz del Pentágono Sean Parnell afirmó que el soldado recordó con corrección y respeto la necesidad de mantener el decoro.
Contexto
El Cementerio Nacional de Arlington, cerca de Washington, es uno de los lugares más simbólicos de la memoria militar estadounidense. La Tumba del Soldado Desconocido honra a un combatiente caído en la Primera Guerra Mundial, y un miembro del 3.er Regimiento de Infantería la vigila día y noche desde 1948. Según la cadena CBS News, citada por la BBC, los centinelas reprenden a visitantes con frecuencia. El episodio se produjo mientras el gobierno de Donald Trump defiende su conflicto con Irán, y Hegseth enfrenta un intento fallido en el Congreso de iniciar un juicio político por haber llevado a cabo la guerra sin autorización legislativa.
Resumen elaborado por Minuto 24 con ayuda de inteligencia artificial a partir de la noticia publicada por BBC News — World. Puede contener imprecisiones: ante cualquier duda, consulta la fuente original.
Published11 November 2026
The Pentagon has given its backing to a US Army guard who reprimanded a group that included US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Arlington National Cemetery.
A video of the Veterans Day observance event on Wednesday showed Hegseth, his wife, and senior advisers laughing and talking while posing for photos in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The footage showed the army sentinel on duty stepping towards Hegseth's group and shouting: "All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times."
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement: "While commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum."
"The Secretary and the entire Department have always honored - and will always honor - the sacrifices our military men and women have made to keep America safe."
On Thursday, he presented an award to the soldier who reprimanded his group.
Hegseth "welcomed the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, the Old Guard to the Pentagon where he proudly awarded Specialist Thomas Iglesias the Joint Service Commendation Medal for the execution of his duties at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11, 2026," the Pentagon said in a statement.
In a post on X showing the soldier, Hesgeth said: "We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist."
The Arlington National Cemetery etiquette requests that visitors speak quietly and do not engage in disrespectful or disorderly conduct.
The tomb, which is one of the country's most sacred war memorials, marks the final resting place of an unknown soldier who was killed in World War I.
A service member from the 3rd Infantry Regiment stands watch over the tomb 24 hours a day and has done so since 1948.
It is not unusual for them to admonish visitors to the site, according to the BBC's US partner CBS News. They reportedly do so a few times a day.
Earlier, President Donald Trump, Vice-President JD Vance and other top officials attended the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the cemetery.
During his speech at the ceremony, Trump offered his gratitude to uniformed service members who have fought for the country. He also touted what he sees as his administration's success in the Iran war.
"Under this administration, and it was about time, somebody fought back. All of us fought back," he said.
"And we won," Trump said of the Iran war. "It's just a question of when we want to end it. We want to make sure we have a total victory, not a 93% victory."
Trump also pointed out Hegseth during the ceremony, saying he's done a "fantastic job" as defence secretary.
Trump has repeatedly defended Hegseth amid Democratic lawmakers' push to impeach him. On Tuesday, an effort to impeach the defence secretary under accusations that he waged war on Iran without congressional authorisation failed on Capitol Hill.
Hegseth has called the impeachment efforts a "farce" and a "stunt".
