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

Dear First Lady Sarah Stitt,
My name is Lisa Carpenter Grant. I am the Oklahoma Lead Ambassador for a 50-state
campaign called the First Ladies’ Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall. This campaign was
loosely inspired by the DEA Faces of Fentanyl Wall at the DEA Museum in Arlington,
Virginia. Our goal is to have a Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall put up in all 50 State Capitol
complexes to honor our loved ones as victims of this drug crisis our country is facing. I
have been to the DEA Museum in Arlington, Virginia to see my son’s beautiful picture on
their wall. Seeing his image, along with the thousands of others, was a moving and
powerful experience. Every one of our lost sons, daughters, moms, dads, siblings,
husbands, wives, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends were so much more than what
took their lives. By displaying their faces and names at our State Capitol complex, they
will continue to live on in memoriam, rather than quietly becoming a statistic. The grieving
and affected mothers who are driving this campaign have accomplished so much already
with a Virtual Drug Epidemic Memorial Wall for every state, but we’re not finished, and we
need your help.
I lost my 29-year-old son, Rylee, to fentanyl poisoning on April 27, 2022. I found him
deceased in his bedroom at our family home. Rylee was an intellectual and a scholar
achieving two college degrees. He was the smartest and most interesting person I have
ever known. He was creative, energetic, curious, brave, and wild. He had the mind of a
philosopher, the heart of a revolutionary, and the humor of a madman. He was a hot
mess, and we loved him for it. Rylee didn’t want to die, but that choice was taken from
him. He was deceived.
The last time I saw and spoke with him, he was sitting at his computer researching
graduate schools. He had a full life with family and friends who will forever remain
devastated by his death. As his mother, I am compelled to keep his name a relevant part
of the conversation. I believe a Memorial Wall with the names and faces of those lost to
drugs in Oklahoma is a simple, yet impactful way to do that. You find the wall, and we’ll do
the rest.
I would appreciate an opportunity to tell you more about our campaign.
A grieving, but hopeful mother,
Lisa Carpenter Grant - Rylee’s mom; forever 29
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Email: lisacarpentergrant@yahoo.com
OK State Lead
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