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Hegseth awards war memorial guard who scolded him at Arlington Cemetery
NBC4 Washington • • nation
Key Points:
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded Spc. Thomas Iglesias the Joint Service Commendation Medal for reprimanding Hegseth and his aides at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a Veterans Day ceremony.
- Iglesias issued a verbal reprimand to Hegseth's group for breaking the solemn atmosphere by laughing loudly near the tomb, which is a revered war memorial guarded continuously by the Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment.
- Hegseth praised Iglesias on social media, emphasizing respect for soldiers and standards, and welcomed the Old Guard soldiers to the Pentagon as part of the award presentation.
- The Joint Service Commendation Medal is a significant military honor rarely awarded to junior enlisted personnel, highlighting the importance of Iglesias’s actions.
