Regarding the Nov. 12 news article “Hegseth, entourage scolded by sentinel”:
I am the daughter of a World War II veteran, and I was disgusted to read that a group including the defense secretary, his wife and Defense Department aides was seen laughing and talking at the Tomb of the Unknowns. It was disgraceful behavior. The sentinel who reprimanded them was correct to do so. Arlington National Cemetery, and the Tomb of the Unknowns in particular, constitutes hallowed ground.
When my son was a Cub Scout, his troop participated in Wreaths Across America, where wreaths are placed at every grave at Arlington Cemetery. Prior to the trip, troop leaders talked to the boys about the solemn nature of their task. We were so proud of how respectfully those 9- and 10-year-old boys behaved that cold December day.
It is shameful that the Cabinet member who oversees the U.S. military cannot demonstrate that same decency and decorum.
Diane B. Norton, Fairfax
This year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the Presidential Military Spouse Commission and appointed Jennifer Hegseth to serve as its chairwoman. She advises the president on military families’ quality of life, housing, health care, education, child care and deployment support.
But at the Tomb of the Unknowns, she was seen laughing and taking photos with her husband, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and several advisers. The on-site guard had to remind them that all visitors must maintain “an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.”
I live in a retirement community that houses many military spouses, and we were appalled at such behavior exhibited by those in leadership positions. We lamented the poor decorum these supposed role models were exhibiting for all visitors to this sacred and hallowed place.
What a shame that the sentinel had to reprimand them. Secretary Hegseth leads U.S. military personnel, and his wife also serves their caring, patriotic, supportive spouses, whom I live alongside and admire. It saddens me and makes me question the president’s appointments.
Kathy A. Megyeri, Washington
What adults owe to foster youths
Emily Putnam-Hornstein and Naomi Schaefer Riley’s Nov. 6 online op-ed, “D.C.’s new foster care law hands teens a choice adults should make,” criticized D.C.’s Soul Act — short for support, opportunity, unity and legal relationships — which allows eligible foster youth age 16 and older to choose approved adults to act as their guardians. The writers argue that adults should instead be making those placement decisions. Adults have been making decisions for these teens for years, and many of those choices have harmed foster youth.
In 2025, about 15,000 young people aged out of the U.S. foster system. Many embarked on their adult lives without families or other close connections. A study that examined foster youths in California found that about 20 percent of 17- to 19-year-olds experienced homelessness.
Most people can remember the excitement of being on the cusp of adulthood: working a part-time job, hanging out with friends or filling out college applications. For teens in the foster system, the transition into adulthood is more fraught. What are we doing for those kids? I ask because I was one of them.
D.C.’s Soul Act, which was created and championed by people who have lived experience in the foster system, gives those at risk of aging out of the system another option: They can ask a judge to recognize a family they choose.
For these young people who are facing adulthood without support, the act provides a lifeline to connection and stability. Adults owe them that much.
Kristopher Sharp, New York
The writer is a senior manager of child welfare policy at the nonprofit Family Equality.
My job-hunting advice
I am a career counselor, veteran and retired federal executive, and I disagreed with the outlook that Adeline Von Drehle’s Nov. 8 op-ed, “Want a job? You’ll have to get past the robots,” presented to young readers. A difficult job search calls for persistence, practical choices and a willingness to change direction.
Choosing a degree should include a serious examination of employment prospects. Studying something you love has value, but employers hire people to meet particular needs. Academic achievement does not guarantee a livelihood.
Difficulty finding work in your preferred profession does not establish that opportunities in other fields are unavailable. There are alternatives worth investigating. For example, food and retail industries deserve serious consideration, including their management internship and trainee programs. And if you have a bachelor’s or master’s degree, military service as a commissioned officer could be a great option. Honest work outside one’s preferred profession can provide income and a foundation for advancement.
Technical careers also merit exploration. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects approximately 14,100 annual openings for information security analysts and 24,800 for data scientists between 2025 and 2035. These projections do not guarantee employment, but they illustrate why students should research demand before choosing additional education.
My position on returning home is firm: I do not regard returning to your parents’ home as an acceptable answer to career disappointment. Parents will not always be there. Supporting yourself may require changing fields, relocating or accepting work you had never envisioned.
The message I want young readers to hear is straightforward: Broaden your search, develop marketable skills and take responsibility for earning your living while pursuing your ambitions. A change in direction can be the beginning of a worthwhile career.
Glenndale Rogers, Dallas
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