WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL MUSEUM TO HOST 90TH ANNIVERSARY WREATH LAYING CEREMONY
For Immediate Release
July 1, 2025 - Claremore, Oklahoma The Will Rogers Memorial Museum will host a special wreath laying ceremony at Noon on Friday, August 9, 2025 to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the death of Will Rogers, America's beloved humorist, actor, and "Oklahoma's Favorite Son."
The solemn ceremony will take place at the Will Rogers family tomb on the museum grounds, where Rogers was laid to rest alongside his wife Betty and their children. The ceremony will include members of the Rogers family and a poetic elegy written by AIAC Chairman L. M. Levie, entitled The Call of Will Rogers, which shall be recited by Will Rogers’ great-granddaughter Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry. The poem is found here:
The formal wreath laying ceremony ceremony will include a a fly-over by volunteer docent and pilot Tom Egbert and musical tributes. A reception with light refreshments will then take place within the museum. An exhibit featuring artifacts from the Alaskan plane crash which caused Will Rogers’ untimely death will be on display to mark this occasion. Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend.
Will Rogers and pilot Wiley Post were killed in a plane crash on August 15, 1935, in Point Barrow, Alaska. Upon hearing the news, then-president Franklin Roosevelt said, "I was shocked to hear of the tragedy which has taken Will Rogers and Wiley Post from us. Will was an old friend of mine, a humorist and philosopher beloved by all."
"This historic milestone and ceremony holds special significance as we reflect on the remarkable life and lasting influence of Will Rogers," commented L. M. Levie. "Will’s wit, wisdom, and compassion continue to resonate with people around the world, and this gathering allows us to honor his memory while celebrating the timeless values that he fully embodied.”
AIAC Chairman Mr. Levie is Ambassador of the Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Donor to the Will Rogers Institute, and Chairman of Avara Pharma Services Limited and its subsidiary, Avara Pharmaceutical Technologies, Inc., located in Norman, Oklahoma.
The public is invited to join the Rogers family and museum officials for this special commemorative service and reception at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum, located at 1720 W. Will Rogers Boulevard in Claremore, Oklahoma.
For further information, please see:
https://www.okhistory.org/calendar/event/wreath-laying-ceremony-and-flyover/
About Will Rogers
Will Rogers (1879-1935) was born William Penn Adair Rogers near Oologah, Oklahoma, and became one of America's most beloved entertainers and social commentators. Known for his homespun humor, political wit, and Cherokee heritage, Rogers earned the nickname "Oklahoma's Favorite Son" and "The Cherokee Kid."
Rogers began his career as a vaudeville performer, showcasing his rope tricks and folksy humor before transitioning to Broadway, silent films, and eventually "talkies." He starred in more than 70 films and wrote over 4,000 syndicated newspaper columns that were read by millions of Americans. His famous philosophy, "I never met a man I didn't like," reflected his genuine warmth and ability to find common ground with people from all walks of life.
Beyond entertainment, Rogers was a passionate advocate for aviation, a philanthropist who raised funds for disaster relief, and an informal diplomat who traveled the world. His commentary on politics and social issues, delivered with humor and without malice, made complex topics accessible to ordinary Americans. Rogers' influence extended far beyond entertainment—he helped shape American popular culture and political discourse during the 1920s and 1930s.
His life was tragically cut short on August 15, 1935, when the experimental aircraft he was traveling in with aviator Wiley Post crashed near Point Barrow, Alaska. Millions of Americans mourned the death of Will Rogers, and his legacy is still remembered today.
For further information, please see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Rogers
About Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry
Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry is Will Rogers' great-granddaughter and serves as the family spokesperson and a passionate guardian of her great-grandfather's enduring legacy. Born into a family deeply committed to preserving Will Rogers' memory and values, Jennifer has dedicated much of her life to ensuring that his wit, wisdom, and humanitarian spirit continue to inspire future generations.
As an active member of the Rogers family, Jennifer serves on the boards of multiple Will Rogers foundations, including the Will Rogers Ranch Foundation and the Will Rogers Memorial Foundation, where she plays a crucial role in strategic planning and preservation efforts. Her involvement extends beyond ceremonial duties—she works closely with museum staff, historians, and researchers to maintain the authenticity and accessibility of Will Rogers' extensive archives and collections.
Jennifer's commitment to her great-grandfather's legacy is evident in her regular participation in commemorative events, educational programs, and media interviews where she shares personal family stories and insights that bring Will Rogers' character to life for contemporary audiences. She has been instrumental in developing educational initiatives that introduce Will Rogers' philosophy and humor to young people, ensuring his timeless messages of tolerance, common sense, and finding humor in life's challenges remain relevant.
Her deep knowledge of family history and her great-grandfather's impact on American culture makes her a sought-after speaker at historical societies, universities, and cultural events across the country. Jennifer's efforts help bridge the gap between Will Rogers' era and today's world, demonstrating how his observations about human nature, politics, and social issues remain remarkably applicable to contemporary discussions.
Through her work with the foundations and her participation in events like the annual wreath-laying ceremony, Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry continues the family tradition of keeping Will Rogers' memory alive while adapting his message for new generations. Her dedication ensures that Oklahoma's Favorite Son's legacy of bringing people together through humor and understanding will endure for years to come.
About the Will Rogers Memorial Museum
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum stands as a testament to the life and legacy of America's beloved humorist and philosopher. Located in Claremore, Oklahoma, on land that Rogers himself purchased in 1911 as the site for his planned retirement home, the museum overlooks the Tiawah Valley and offers a panoramic view of Rogers State University and the surrounding countryside.
Construction of the original 15,000-square-foot limestone building began on April 21, 1938, with Will's sister, Sallie Rogers McSpadden, turning the first spadeful of dirt. The museum was completed and dedicated on November 4, 1938—what would have been Rogers' 59th birthday—just three years after his death. President Franklin Roosevelt participated in the dedication ceremony via radio, delivering a touching tribute to Will and the new memorial that was broadcast across the nation.
In 1983, an 11,000-square-foot addition nearly doubled the museum's space, adding a theater, expanded gift shop, offices, archives, and more spacious galleries for displaying collections organized around the various aspects of Rogers' life and career. The museum's rotunda features a famous sculpture of Will Rogers by renowned artist Jo Davidson, with its pedestal inscribed with Rogers' most famous quotation: "I never met a man I didn't like."
The museum houses an extensive collection of over 18,000 photographs, thousands of original manuscripts, private letters, contracts, personal papers, motion pictures, home movies, and audio recordings. The research library contains more than 2,000 volumes covering Will Rogers and related topics including Native American history, genealogy, vaudeville, early motion pictures, and the history of the 1879-1935 era.
Originally managed by the Will Rogers Memorial Commission, the museum was transferred to the Oklahoma Historical Society in March 2016, ensuring its continued preservation and operation. The Rogers family tomb, located on the museum grounds, serves as the final resting place for Will and Betty Rogers, along with three of their four children and other family members.
For further information, please see:
About American Industrial Acquisition Corporation
American Industrial Acquisition Corporation (AIAC) is a diversified industrial group with manufacturing and distribution sites in 24 countries in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia-New Zealand. AIAC has acquired and grown non-core subsidiaries and divisions of Boeing, Siemens, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Johnson Controls, Merck, Pfizer, Astellas, Visteon, Carlyle, Ahlstrom, Tolko, Groupe Suez, Groupe Rexel, and many other leading multinational corporations.
AIAC companies serve companies and governmental entities worldwide in all major sectors, including aviation, space, defense, automotive, truck, rail, marine, petrochemical, solar, nuclear, food, confectionary, beverage, civil engineering and infrastructure, commercial construction, mining, dredging, disaster relief, education, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. In addition, AIAC companies are exclusive, authorized distributors of leading branded industrial and consumer products and serve as critical suppliers for the construction of major airports, schools, hospitals, performing arts and sports centers, offices and hotels throughout Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. AIAC is a leading manufacturer of building, street, and highway signage in Europe, signage and illumination structures in North America, and a distributor of electrical products throughout France.
Of note, AIAC purchased Boeing Canada in 2005 and has produced over 10,000 unique components for every Boeing jet plane ever since, reliably serving Boeing from manufacturing facilities in North America. A leader in ultra-high precision jet engine component manufacturing, AIAC companies produce 2,200 fan blades for each jet engine produced by GE, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, and Honeywell.
AIAC companies actively support exploration into outer space, manufacturing critical components for launching and propelling spacecraft and satellites. AIAC customers in this sector include NASA, the European Space Agency, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Boeing. AIAC companies also lead in the design and manufacture of undersea umbilical cables for worldwide oceanographic research.
AIAC companies produce the critical automotive wire and cable for Tesla, GM, Ford, Chrysler-Fiat, Toyota, and Nissan. In connection with its kraft paper manufacturing interests in Canada and the US, AIAC controls and sustainably manages 22 million acres of Manitoba, Canada forestland, an area equivalent in size to the nation of Hungary. AIAC affiliate, Metallwarenfabrik Gemmingen GmbH, located in Germany, designs, manufactures and distributes high performance, emergency portable power generators utilized in global conflict zones and during natural disasters.
For further information, please see:
About AIAC Philanthropy
AIAC and the AIAC Foundation support a wide range of nonprofit, nonsectarian, bipartisan organizations which promote international conflict resolution, disaster relief, economic development, environmental sustainability, exploration, and the performing arts. The exploration-focused nonprofit organizations which they actively support include the Explorers Club, the National Geographic Society, the Royal Geographical Society, the American Museum of Natural History and the Hayden Planetarium, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the National Air and Space Museum, the National Space Society, and the United States Space Foundation.
AIAC’s other beneficiaries include the Appeal of the Nobel Peace Laureates Foundation Inc., the Asia Society, the Atlantic Council, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - Gates Philanthropy Partners, the Bretton Woods Committee, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Carter Center, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Economic Club of New York, the Foreign Policy Association, the Institut Française des Relations Internationales, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Crisis Group, the International Rescue Committee, the Japan Society, the JFK School of Government of Harvard University, the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), the Sierra Club, the Trilateral Commission, and the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute.
For further information, please see:
https://www.aiac.com/our-values
Media Contact:
Isabel Carro-Toro, Vice President
American Industrial Acquisition Corporation
+34 689 295 827 (Spain)
+ 1 787 244 3175 (USA)
icarro-toro@aiac.com