USA First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff

Dear First Lady Janet Holcomb,
My name is Lisa Montagano, and I am an ambassador and Indiana State Lead for
the Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall. On March 7, 2020, I lost my only son, Jacob
“Jake” Roop to fentanyl poisoning. Jacob struggled for many years with mental
health issues, Crohn’s disease, and substance use. It was heartbreaking to watch
my child suffer on and off for so long. Everyone used to say that he was a
“momma’s boy,” and I wouldn’t have it any other way. We were best friends. There
are still times when I think of something that I want to share with him, but I can no
longer call him. I can’t hear his voice; I can’t hug him or have late night
conversations with him, because he unknowingly ingested fentanyl that someone
gave him which killed him. I have slept with his ashes wrapped in his baby blanket
next to me on my bed to try and keep him close, but I will never be the same person
I was before my son died.
Jake LOVED to fish and wanted to be a marine biologist. He was the politest young
man. He always held doors open for others, would say “yes, ma’am, and no, sir,”
and was genuinely concerned about others who he knew were struggling. He needs
to be remembered and not forgotten. So, I am asking for your help in assisting us
with finding a permanent location for a Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall within our
Capitol. We have created two memorial walls, one with photos, and one with
names. I am including Jacob’s frame, below. These digital walls and albums update
automatically. We would also like the photos displayed in hard copy format. The wall
of names can be projected onto a wall so families can touch their loved one's name.
We would like our loved ones to be treated like victims as none of them deserved to
die this way by being unknowingly poisoned.
Sincerely,
Lisa Montagano,
Mother of Jacob “Jake” Roop Forever 24
Lowell, IN
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