Specialist Thomas Iglesias received the honor a day after the incident at Arlington National Cemetery. (Image: X/@SecWar)
\n\nUS Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has given a Joint Service Commendation Medal to the soldier who corrected him and his staff at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The award was presented on Thursday at the Pentagon.
\n\nSpecialist Thomas Iglesias received the honor a day after the incident at Arlington National Cemetery.
\n\nAccording to a report from CNN, a Pentagon official confirmed the ceremony. According to the official, Hegseth welcomed members of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, also known as The Old Guard, to the Pentagon. There he gave Iglesias the medal for how he carried out his duties at the tomb on November 11, 2026.
\n\nOnce the photos were done, some people in the group could be heard laughing and talking. Iglesias, who was on patrol in front of the tomb, stopped walking and turned to face them. He then called out that all visitors must keep an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.
\n\nSoldiers from The Old Guard have guarded the tomb around the clock since 1948. Part of that job is keeping the area calm and respectful, and it…
Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/latest-news
