Pentagon Upholds Arlington National Cemetery Guard's Reprimand of Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin's Group
A Pentagon representative has backed an Arlington National Cemetery guard who admonished Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin's party during a Veterans Day ceremony. The group, which included Fox News host and former US army officer Pete Hegseth, was reportedly being too loud near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The incident, captured on video and widely shared online, shows a Tomb Guard approaching the visitors, including Hegseth's father, to enforce an atmosphere of 'silence and respect'. The guard specifically addressed the need to maintain solemnity at the memorial. Hegseth, a vocal critic of the US military's perceived 'wokeness', had visited the cemetery to witness his father lay a wreath at the tomb.
Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh stated that the guard 'did the right thing', underscoring the necessity of appropriate conduct at the sacred site. Ms Singh further clarified that a Defence Secretary visit to Arlington National Cemetery typically involves a formal ceremony with a designated wreath-laying, not a private visit as depicted. She emphasised the importance of respecting the sentinels and the hallowed ground they protect.
