Pete Hegseth gave a medal Thursday to the soldier who had reminded his group to maintain silence and respect at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Good. An important principle has survived: even the defense secretary’s entourage can be assigned the same instructions as a bus tour.

CBS News reports that footage showed Hegseth and aides posing for photos after the Veterans Day ceremony. Someone laughed; the report doesn’t identify who. Spc. Thomas Iglesias issued the reminder to all visitors. It was not a personalized declaration of war on the Pentagon. It was the rule for standing there.

On Thursday, Hegseth awarded Iglesias the Joint Service Commendation Medal for performing his duties, according to a Pentagon official. He posted pictures and praised the soldier and the standards. His spokesman agreed that the reminder was correct and respectful.

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Credit where it is due. Recognizing the soldier was the right response. Nobody needs to invent a revenge plot to find the absurdity here.

The official in charge of the military was visiting one of its most solemn sites, and the group needed the visitor briefing delivered at volume. This is not advanced tactical doctrine. The entrance exam has one question, and the answer is less noise.

CBS also notes that such reminders are routine: a member of the regiment said in 2022 that they happen two or three times a day. The grand hierarchy of defense leadership had briefly joined the ordinary queue of people who need reminding.

The soldier upheld the standard. The secretary honored him for it. Excellent. For the next visit, perhaps the leadership delegation could study that award-winning material in advance.