Two gravefinders who seach for fallen NYPD heroes honored as 2025 Persons of the Year

Found 52 Unmarked Graves of New York's Finest

The New York City PBA recognized two local history enthusiasts today for going above and beyond to honor New York City’s “forgotten heroes” — NYPD officers fallen in the line of duty yet buried in unmarked graves.

The PBA named Newtown Historical Society president Christina Wilkinson and cemetery volunteer Anthony Pisciotta as 2025 Persons of the Year for dedicating themselves to finding these unmarked graves and raising funds for headstone markers. Through their work, they have located 52 unmarked graves of fallen New York City police officers — ensuring these once-forgotten heroes are forgotten no more.

PBA President Patrick Hendry presented the 2025 Persons of the Year award to Wilkinson and Pisciotta during the police union’s 131st annual convention in Albany.

SEE VIDEO OF AWARD PRESENTATION & REMARKS

1:15 – PBA President Patrick Hendry’s remarks
3:00 – Award presentation
5:00 – Christina Wilkinson’s remarks
8:50 – Anthony Pisciotta’s remarks

PBA President Patrick Hendry said:

“Police officers take a sacred vow to never forget those who laid down their lives to protect New Yorkers. Thanks to Christina and Anthony’s selfless work, the fading memories of our heroes are never erased. For helping police officers uphold our sacred vow to never forget, the PBA is proud to name Christina Wilkinson and Anthony Pisciotta as the 2025 PBA Persons of the Year.”

A passionate local historian, Wilkinson is deeply committed to her Queens community and the police officers who protect it. Her initial efforts at finding the unmarked graves bore fruit last year when she was able to identify the resting places of two NYPD officers killed in the early 20th century. She then started a database that cross-referenced the names in the Officer Down Memorial Page with FindAGrave.com.

She enlisted the aid of Pisciotta, a civil servant and volunteer at various cemeteries. Together, they soon began locating dozens more unmarked graves of NYPD hero cops. They created a GoFundMe page for each officer and soon raised enough to have four headstones made by an Amish craftsman based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

To date, Wilkinson and Pisciotta have identified 52 unmarked line-of-duty graves and placed headstones on four of them. Wilkinson has also collaborated with local elected officials to have 21 city streets co-named in honor of fallen NYPD members.

Previous recipients of the PBA’s Person of the Year award include Blue Line Bears founder Megan O’Grady, former NYPD Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, Tunnel to Towers Foundation CEO and President Frank Siller, senators, governors and many other notables from government and law enforcement.