Q: The AJC had a photo of President Obama at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. I thought it was named the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. When did the name change and why? Did it require an act of Congress?
—Frank Manfre, Grayson
A: The Tomb of the Unknowns also is known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and has never been officially named, according to the cemetery's website. On March 4, 1921, Congress approved the burial of an unidentified World War I American soldier in the plaza of the cemetery's new Memorial Amphitheater. "The Tomb sarcophagus was placed above the grave of the Unknown Soldier of World War I. West of the World War I Unknown are the crypts of unknowns from World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Those three graves are marked with white marble slabs flush with the plaza," according to the website. After exhuming the remains of the Vietnam unknown in 1998, the Department of Defense identified him as Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, who was shot down in 1972 near An Loc, Vietnam. The crypt that contained the remains was kept vacant.
Q: The paper listed a number of events held on Memorial Day. Was anything held at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton?
—Richard E. Gilbert, Tucker
A: The cemetery, spanning 775 acres in western Cherokee County, held a Memorial Day program on the Saturday before Memorial Day, as it does every year. The events featured a choral group singing patriotic songs and speeches, cemetery officials told Q&A on the News.
Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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