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

Dear Governor Janet Mills,
My name is Sharon Bailey, and I am one of the State Lead Ambassadors representing
Maine for the First Ladies Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall. This campaign is taking place in
all 50 states with the goal of placing a Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall in each state Capitol
to honor and remember loved ones lost to the drug crisis occurring in our country. The
grieving and affected families who are driving this campaign have accomplished so much
already by creating a Virtual Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall for each state but are far from
being finished in honoring their loved ones. These digital walls update automatically when
someone is added; one has photos of loved ones and the other has names. Having a
physical place to see their faces and honor the lives of our Mainers is what we strive for.
This campaign was loosely inspired by the DEA Faces of Fentanyl Memorial Wall at the
DEA Museum in Arlington, Virginia. As you know, there are countless numbers of people
still dying every day due to this crisis which seems to be getting worse instead of better.
Every one of our lost sons, daughters, siblings, husbands, wives, moms, dads, aunts,
uncles, cousins, grandparents, and friends were so much more than the drugs that took
their lives. By displaying their names and faces at a significant building within our state
capital, they will continue to live on in memoriam, rather than quietly becoming statistics.
This is where we need your help for securing a physical memorial in a significant building
within Augusta. Most states are accomplishing this through their First Lady or First
Gentleman. We offer our condolences to you since the passing of your husband and
welcome your assistance. We know you are very busy and would accept help from
another person who would be capable of this job if you are unable to do so.
I lost my only child and son, Matthew Bailey, to an accidental heroin and sedative
overdose on September 7, 2012. He was only 20 years old and suffered more than most
in his short lifetime with mental illness and substance use disorder. From 8th grade until
his death, he had been hospitalized repeatedly, attended many outpatient therapies, had
counseling and medication management services, and an alternative high school teaching
program. Getting through high school was challenging, but he shined in his senior year.
He had a gift for helping other students in special education through a work study
program. He managed to go back to the regular classroom for learning and resumed
senior activities with his class. I can’t convey how proud I was to see him receive his
diploma! He really had achieved the almost impossible. Anyone else suffering from an
illness or disease would have been applauded and recognized for this achievement, but
because of stigma, it went unnoticed.
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