Arlington Cemetery guard corrects US defence secretary over conduct at tomb

A guard at Arlington National Cemetery formally corrected US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during a Veterans Day event after the official, his wife and accompanying aides engaged in laughing and conversation at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The sentinel, whose role includes maintaining solemn conduct at one of America's most hallowed burial grounds, intervened to address the breach of protocol at the sacred site. Arlington National Cemetery maintains strict decorum requirements for visitors, particularly during formal ceremonies honouring fallen service members.

The incident occurred as Hegseth, who assumed the role of defence secretary in the incoming administration, participated in Veterans Day commemorations. The cemetery, located in Virginia, serves as the final resting place for more than 400,000 military personnel and is subject to rigorous conduct standards.

The exchange underscores the expectations placed on visitors to Arlington, regardless of official status. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded continuously since 1937, remains one of the nation's most significant memorials to those who died in military service without identification.