Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday gave the Joint Service Commendation Medal to Specialist Thomas Iglesias. He is the Army guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. After Wednesday’s Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, he reminded Mr. Hegseth and his group to keep silent there.

Mr. Hegseth welcomed a group of the tomb’s guards to the Pentagon and gave the medal to Specialist Iglesias, USA Today and the Associated Press reported. “We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist,” Mr. Hegseth wrote on social media, along with photos of the ceremony.

On Wednesday, Mr. Hegseth, his wife and a group of senior advisers posed for photos in front of the tomb. As they walked away, Specialist Iglesias called out, “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.” Some in the group had been heard laughing and talking, according to USA Today. Television cameras caught the moment.

The Pentagon stood behind the guard the same day. In a statement, it said the “soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum.”

The Joint Service Commendation Medal is seen as one of the military’s top awards, DW reported. It is not usually given to junior enlisted service members.

The tomb holds the remains of an American soldier who was killed in World War I and was never identified. Guards called sentinels watch over it 24 hours a day. They come from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard. Serving as a sentinel is seen as one of the highest honors in the U.S. military.

At the Arlington ceremony, President Donald J. Trump praised Mr. Hegseth for doing a “fantastic job” at the Pentagon.