Family, friends to participate in Will Rogers wreath-laying ceremony

Tuesday, August 10th 2004, 5:12 pm

By: News On 6

CLAREMORE, Okla. (AP) -- Fans and family of Will Rogers and Wiley Post will be on hand for a fly-in Sunday at the Rogers' Birthplace Ranch near Oologah to commemorate the Aug. 15, 1935 death of Rogers and Post in an Alaskan plane crash.

Special guests will be Gen. Jack N. Merritt, a Lawton native and decorated war veteran, and Pearl Carter-Scott of Marlow, Wiley Post's first student.

Other guests will include Chuck Rogers of Arizona, son of the late Jim Rogers and grandson of Will Rogers; James Rogers of California, son of Jim's son Kem; and Doris "Coke" Meyer of Bartlesville, Will Rogers' great-niece.

The fly-in begins at 9 AM on the 2,000 foot grass strip adjacent to the ranch house.

Merritt will place a wreath at the Rogers' tomb at 2 PM at the Will Rogers Museum in Claremore.