Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and members of his group were publicly admonished Wednesday by a U.S. Army sentinel guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

The incident occurred after a Veterans Day wreath-laying ceremony attended by President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and Vice President JD Vance. Hegseth posed for photos on the steps in front of the tomb with his wife, Jennifer Hegseth, chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver, and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh.

As the group began walking away, someone in the entourage laughed and talked, prompting the sentinel to stop his patrol and shout, "All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times!" The exchange was captured on video by multiple news outlets.

It was not immediately clear which individuals in the group made the noise. The sentinel's reprimand drew attention to the strict decorum rules at the revered memorial, which honors unidentified U.S. service members killed in war and is guarded continuously by the 3rd Infantry Regiment.

Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell issued a statement acknowledging the incident. "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 said. "While commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum."

The episode took place one day after Hegseth narrowly avoided an impeachment vote in the House over issues including his handling of foreign policy matters. Democratic lawmakers have continued to criticize the defense secretary in recent days.

Hegseth, a veteran and former Fox News host, has served as defense secretary in the Trump administration. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier remains one of the most sacred sites in the U.S. military tradition, with strict protocols prohibiting talking, laughing, or other disruptions during visits.