PITTSTON, Pa. — Note: the above video is from an earlier story.
Scranton Police Detective Kyle Gilmartin, shot in the line of duty early this year, will don the mantle of grand marshal of the Pittston Tomato Festival Parade, Mayor Mike Lombardo said.
The 41st annual parade steps off in at 11 a.m. on Aug. 17. The roughly two-mile-long route starts on Main Street in South Pittston, proceeds through downtown and on to Kennedy Boulevard before ending on East Street.
The man selected as this year's grand marshal is Gilmartin, 35, a Luzerne County native whose decade-long career with the Scranton police was nearly extinguished by a gunman's bullets in January.
Gilmartin survived two shots to his head and has been recovering ever since. He was awarded the Law Enforcement Purple Heart on Tuesday.