On Veterans Day, after the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s group stopped to pose for photos on the steps. Laughter and loud talk carried across the plaza. A Sentinel from The Old Guard shut it down on the spot: “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.”
Now we talk about it.
Join me and decorated Marine Corps combat veteran and friend, Joe Plenzler, for a bit of context about what happened.
Joe and I will be having a straightforward conversation about why he and others serve, what is Veterans Day, what happened at the Tomb, and what every leader in this country should take from it. Joe knows what that ground means to the families of the fallen, and you will hear it from someone who earned the right to say it.
A Sentinel walks that mat around the clock so the Unknowns are never alone. The least the rest of us can do is lower our voices.
Mark your calendar for Friday, November 13, at 11:30 am ET (8:30 am PT) and bring your questions. Here’s the link:
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/455650?utm_source=live-stream-scheduled-upsell
Joe and I will see you Friday morning.
Mitch Jackson, Esq.
I totally respect the Old Guard Sentinel.
They needed to be called out, and he did not hesitate.
I appreciate your deep dive into this deeply disturbing moment. I was even more disturbed today when I saw Hegseth turning his mistake from yesterday into another photo op for himself today, as he decorated the soldier who reprimanded his party. Veterans know true service when they see it.