Press Release
July 29, 2020
Contact: Pat Reeder
Will Rogers Memorial Museums, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 918-343-8129
pr@willrogers.com
www.willrogers.com
Will Rogers and Wiley Post Fly-In and National Day of Remembrance on August 15
OOLOGAH, Okla. — On Saturday, August 15, starting at 7:30 a.m., aviation enthusiasts will mark 85 years to the day since Will Rogers and Wiley Post died in an Alaska plane crash. To honor their memory, pilots of small planes will land on a 2,000-foot grass strip at the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch, adjacent to the house where Rogers was born in 1879.
The fly-in is an opportunity for the public to get an up-close look at vintage and late-model small aircraft and visit with the pilots. Pilots come from a four-state area to showcase their planes and renew friendships from previous years. Come early to see the first aircraft land.
There will also be special activities for children, Cherokee storytelling, a classic car show and tours of the birthplace and the Amish-built barn. Reenactors portraying Will Rogers and Wiley Post will be a part of the festivities. Admission is free, and ample parking is available on the grounds. This event is sponsored by the Cherokee Nation.
Also on August 15, a National Day of Remembrance will be held as a Facebook Live Event at 10 a.m. This ceremony will mark the tragic loss of the lives of Will Rogers and Wiley Post. The service will also honor all those who have lost their lives in small airplane crashes. This event can be accessed at www.facebook.com/WRBirthplace.
For this event, a special commemorative lapel pin featuring an image of Will Rogers will be given as a free gift to family members who have lost a loved one in a small plane accident. Inscribed on the pin is the Will Rogers quote, "She's a beautiful day and we are flying high." Those interested can email wrinfo@willrogers.com to request a pin.
For more information about this event, please call 918-341-0719 or visit www.willrogers.com. The Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch is located at 9501 E 380 Road in Oologah.
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum and the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch are divisions of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.
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