Q: Has any U.S. president in office missed the ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day before, other than health reasons?
-- Kristy Holt, Gainesville
A: Yes, other presidents have attended other ceremonies or been elsewhere on Memorial Day. Ronald Reagan missed the Arlington ceremony several years, for reasons ranging from attending an event at West Point, visiting his California ranch and attending a G-7 Summit meeting, according to The Washington Post and CBS News. George H.W. Bush, who is a World War II veteran, did not attend any of the Arlington ceremonies, The Washington Post reported. George W. Bush observed the 2007 holiday in Texas, CBS News reported. Vice President Joe Biden attended this year's wreath-laying event at Arlington National Cemetery. President Barack Obama attended a ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Ill., but thunderstorms caused his remarks to be canceled. He later spoke to dozens of troops at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington.
Q: Why can't the oil well be sealed using explosives?
-- Ken Suggs, Lilburn
A: BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles told reporters that none of the experts the company has consulted believe explosives should be used to stop the flow, The New York Times reported. The paper reported that Suttles described blasting around the well as "not an option we believe we would ever use."
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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