A Pentagon spokesperson says in response that “the Secretary and the entire Department have always honored … sacrifices our military men and women have made”

NEED TO KNOW

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was part of a group that was scolded by a soldier guarding Arlington National Cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a Veterans Day ceremony
• The Pentagon chief, President Donald Trump and other officials had gathered for the solemn occasion and some of them were later seen talking and laughing while taking photos
• “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times!” the soldier yelled

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and some of his aides were sharply scolded by a soldier guarding Arlington National Cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as the Pentagon chief, President Donald Trump and other senior officials gathered to commemorate Veterans Day.

Some in the group were heard laughing and talking as they took photos on Wednesday, Nov. 11, according to CNN.

Video shows how the moment unfolded when Hegseth and the others gathered outside the tomb.

“All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times!” a soldier yells in the footage, drawing the attention of the defense secretary, who is a veteran himself and a former TV commentator.

The reprimand came after the annual Veterans Day and wreath-laying ceremony at the sacred memorial honoring the nation’s unidentified war dead.

In response, a spokesman for the Pentagon tells PEOPLE: “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.”

“While commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum,” the spokesman continued.

Since 1948, soldiers with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as “The Old Guard,” have protected the tomb — which was built in 1921 — 24 hours a day, seven days a week, rain or shine, according to cemetery.

Its “most solemn ceremonies occur when the president of the United States, or the president’s designee, lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to mark the national observance of Memorial Day, Veterans Day or some other special occasion,” the cemetery’s website states.

The incident came just one day after the outgoing House Republican majority voted to block an attempted impeachment of Hegseth introduced by libertarian-leaning Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie over his conduct leading the Pentagon in the Iran War and conflicts in the Caribbean and South America. 

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Trump has remained supportive of Hegseth.

#Pete #Hegseth #Aides #Publicly #Reprimanded #Making #Noise #Tomb #Unknown #Soldier #Veterans #Day