Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell says the sentinel correctly reminded everyone to maintain decorum and that Hegseth has always honored service members' sacrifices
Sean ParnellChief Pentagon spokesman, in a statement to news organizations
Parnell says Hegseth and the whole department have always honored, and will always honor, the sacrifices of service members, and that on this solemn day a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum.
Responding to
Hegseth's group disrespected the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier when it posed for photos and laughed there on Veterans Day.
“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.”
Reporting
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Sentinel admonishes Hegseth's group at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans Day; the Pentagon says the soldier was right, and Gwen Moore and VoteVets call it disrespect
On November 11, 2026, after President Donald Trump laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery for Veterans Day, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, his wife Jennifer and several senior aides posed for photographs on the steps in front of the tomb. As the group broke up at about 12:30 p.m., someone in it laughed. The sentinel on duty turned toward them and called out: "All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times." The pool camera at the tomb recorded the exchange. News reports did not establish who laughed. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the Secretary and the department have always honored the sacrifices of service members, and that the soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum. Rep. Gwen Moore, a Wisconsin Democrat, said Hegseth showed contempt for service members by disrespecting the tomb. VoteVets called the episode a disgrace and repeated its call for his impeachment. On November 12, Hegseth welcomed the unit that guards the tomb to the Pentagon and gave the sentinel, Spc. Thomas Iglesias, the Joint Service Commendation Medal. He posted photos of the ceremony with the words "We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist."
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
ABC News report of November 11, 2026 describing the exchange recorded by the network pool camera at the tomb, with the statement of Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
CBS News report of November 11, 2026 on the sentinel's reprimand, with Parnell's statement to CBS News and background on how often sentinels address visitors.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
ABC News reported that a group including Hegseth and his wife posed for a photo on the steps in front of the tomb, and that a sentinel admonished the group after someone laughed as it broke up.
After the quotation
CBS News reported that it is not clear who laughed, or whether Hegseth made any noise.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is the conduct of Hegseth's group at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11, 2026, when its members posed for photos on the steps and laughter drew a sentinel's warning. Parnell backs the sentinel's warning as correct, which accepts that decorum needed restoring, while rejecting any suggestion that Hegseth or the department fails to honor service members. He supports one part of the criticism and rejects another, so the statement is mixed.
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More from this case
Read the full caseHeather Delaney Reese says Hegseth turned the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier into a photo opportunity
“The Secretary of Defense, who has been entrusted with overseeing the entirety of the American military, stood in front of the resting place of soldiers who gave everything, including their very identities, and turned it into a photo opportunity.”Read statement
VoteVets calls the sentinel's reprimand of Hegseth a disgrace and says he must be impeached
VoteVets
“What a disgrace to have the Secretary of Defense reprimanded by a Sentinel at the tomb of the unknown soldier on Veterans Day. Pete Hegseth has no respect for the fallen and he can’t even remain reverent on this sacred day at one of our nation’s most sacred memorials. This makes our blood boil. Hegseth must be impeached and removed from office.”Read statement
Gwen Moore says Hegseth showed contempt for service members by disrespecting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
“Pete Hegseth continues to demonstrate his utter lack of fitness for his office. One day after narrowly avoiding impeachment, he shows his contempt for our men and women in uniform by disrespecting the sanctity of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.”Read statement
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- Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell says the sentinel correctly reminded everyone to maintain decorum and that Hegseth has always honored service members' sacrifices
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The Dispute Index. "Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell says the sentinel correctly reminded everyone to maintain decorum and that Hegseth has always honored service members' sacrifices". First published: 2026-11-13. Last updated: 2026-11-13. https://disputeindex.com/events/8737-parnell-says-hegseth-and-the-whole-department-have