A U.S. Army sentinel guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier appeared to rebuke War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s delegation on Wednesday after laughter was heard near the solemn memorial. The encounter was captured in a video cited in a report first published by CNN.

Hegseth, his wife and senior aides were seen taking pictures and speaking with one another on the memorial steps at Arlington National Cemetery. The group was there following a Veterans Day event.

Laughter could be heard as members of the delegation climbed the steps, according to the video. Immediately afterward, the sentinel moved toward the group and addressed them from a distance.

“All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times,” the sentinel shouted toward the delegation. The reminder was delivered while the soldier continued carrying out duties at one of the cemetery’s most sacred locations.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier sits at the heart of Arlington National Cemetery. It holds the graves of three unknown American service members, including one who served during World War I.

The site is widely recognized as a place for mourning and quiet reflection on military service. Sentinels guard the tomb 24 hours a day, maintaining a constant presence around the memorial.

The incident drew questions for the Pentagon after the video circulated. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell responded with a statement addressing both the department’s record of honoring service members and the sentinel’s reminder about proper behavior.

“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 also directly acknowledged the soldier’s action at the memorial. “While commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum,” Parnell said.

The statement described the reminder as both correct and respectful. It did not challenge the sentinel’s decision to call for silence after laughter was heard from the area where the delegation was climbing the steps.

Hegseth is a former Army National Guard soldier who served in Iraq. The Arlington episode came during a politically charged week in which he also faced an unsuccessful impeachment effort in the House of Representatives.

The House rejected the effort after it was brought forward by a Republican lawmaker. Hegseth therefore prevailed in the chamber and remained in his position leading the War Department.

Hours before the vote, Hegseth appeared at a rare Pentagon press conference on Tuesday. He called the impeachment effort a farce and defended his record as War Secretary.

That record, as described in the source, includes championing the unpopular Iran war, launching strikes against suspected drug vessels in Latin American waters and firing senior military officers. Those actions have remained part of the political dispute surrounding his leadership.

Democrats who won control of both chambers of Congress last week have promised to investigate Hegseth over his stewardship of the U.S. military. They also have not ruled out pursuing another impeachment effort against him.

For the moment at Arlington, however, the response from the Pentagon centered on the standards expected at the tomb. Parnell affirmed that the sentinel had acted correctly and respectfully by reminding everyone present to maintain decorum.

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