Nov. 12 (UPI) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday awarded a medal to the soldier who reprimanded him and members of his staff for talking and laughing during a somber Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

Army Spc. Thomas Iglesias received the Joint Service Commendation Medal at the Pentagon, a day after he told Hegseth and his entourage to remain silent while visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Hegseth welcomed members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard, to recognize Iglesias for performing his duties at the tomb on Wednesday.

The incident happened when Hegseth and several members of his staff stopped to take photographs following a wreath-laying ceremony.

As members of the group laughed and talked, Iglesias, who was guarding the tomb, stopped his patrol.

“All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times,” Iglesias said.

The group included Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer, chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh.

It was unclear who in Hegseth’s group was responsible for the noise.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell defended the soldier’s actions Wednesday, saying he had “correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum.”

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier honors unidentified American service members killed in combat. Soldiers from the Old Guard have maintained a continuous watch over the memorial since 1948.

The recognition comes two days after House Republicans blocked an effort to impeach Hegseth over his handling of the war in Iran and U.S. military strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific.

The House voted 211-204 Tuesday to remove the impeachment resolution from floor consideration and send it to a committee, where it is unlikely to advance.

Hegseth dismissed the impeachment effort as a “political spectacle.”

“It’s a farce, and it’s a stunt, and everybody knows it,” Hegseth said Tuesday.