Retired Police Officer Brings Christmas to Fallen Soldiers

Richard Lisko never served in the military, yet he has the ultimate respect for those who have.

Lisko, who spent 26 years in the Baltimore County Police Department before retiring from the Essex Precinct last March, is now helping to lay wreaths at the grave sites of military members buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

His desire to help with the project came last year as he took a master’s class in global justice at Johns Hopkins University. It was in that class that Lisko met a member of the tomb guard, soldiers charged with guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, VA.

“That soldier made such an impression on me and I wanted to find a way to make a difference,” Lisko said.

Last December Lisko helped organize a group of more than 60 people, including fellow Johns Hopkins students and alumni, for a wreath-laying event with Maine-based nonprofit Wreaths Across America.

Founded in 1992, the organization’s mission is “to continue and expand the annual wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery,” according to its website. The annual ceremony attracts thousands on the second Sunday of each December.

Lisko brought even more people on the trip this year.

“I get emotional every time I make that trip to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Arlington National Cemetery,” said Lisko, who now works for the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

“This is something I feel like I just have to do out of respect to those men and women that made the ultimate sacrifice," he said. "It’s especially important as we reflect on the true meaning of the Christmas season.”

Lisko added that his respect also extends to the members of the Tomb Guard, who must go through a rigorous process to be selected for this assignment and must stand guard 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of the weather.

“The level of self-sacrifice and commitment is amazing,” Lisko said. “We as police officers do a great job of paying tribute to those we lost, but we could learn from these guards and take it to another level.”