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An Army sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery called for silence and respect Wednesday after laughter was heard from departing members of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s entourage following a Veterans Day ceremony.
Video shows the incident unfolding shortly after President Donald Trump left the memorial following a wreath-laying ceremony.
Trump left the memorial around 12:28 p.m. Hegseth and members of his entourage, including his wife, Jennifer Hegseth, began taking photos and posing on the memorial steps around 12:29 p.m., according to the video.
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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, second from left, and first lady Melania Trump bow their heads in prayer during a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Nov. 11, 2026. (Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images)
Roughly a minute later, laughter could be heard in the distance as members of the group departed, prompting a soldier guarding the tomb to issue a sharp reminder to those gathered.
“All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times,” the soldier said.
The instruction came around 12:30 p.m., after Trump had left the ceremony.
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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, joined by his wife, Jennifer Hegseth, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, left, participates in a Veterans Day wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Nov. 11, 2026. (Mandel Ngan/ AFP via Getty Images)
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell responded to the incident in a statement to Fox News, emphasizing the department’s commitment to honoring fallen service members.
“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,” Parnell said. “While commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum.”
The soldiers who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are known as sentinels and belong to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as The Old Guard.
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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth attends a Veterans Day wreath-laying ceremony with President Donald Trump at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Nov. 11, 2026. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
According to Arlington National Cemetery, sentinels stand watch at the tomb 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, regardless of weather conditions.
The highly selective assignment requires extensive training, including memorizing cemetery history, mastering ceremonial procedures and maintaining strict standards of military appearance and conduct.
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The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier honors unidentified American service members who died in military conflicts. The memorial is among the nation’s most solemn military sites and serves as a focal point of Veterans Day commemorations.
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