Michael Turner has been named the 2023 West Pittston Cherry Blossom grand marshal.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Michael Turner has been named the 2023 West Pittston Cherry Blossom grand marshal.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
WEST PITTSTON – The West Pittston Cherry Blossom Festival’s grand marshal for 2023 has been unanimously chosen by the committee and Michael Turner, former West Pittston police chief, is grateful to be selected.
It was just four months ago, Turner, while on duty, was hit head-on in a motor vehicle accident that nearly took his life adjacent to the Midway Shopping Center, Wyoming.
Cherry Blossom Festival committeewoman Toni Valenti recently notified Turner on his selection as grand marshal.
“When Toni called me, I immediately was set back because the thing that came to my mind that I was in the same category as George Miller, the late (West Pittston) Mayor Tony Denisco, Jerry Zezza, and all the prior grand marshals of the Cherry Blossom Festival and what they contributed to the community of West Pittston their entire lives, just struck me that they put me in the same category of all those people before me.”
“I was so humbled and honored when she asked and I accepted,” Turner added. “But when you think of all those grand marshals before me and put me in the same breath as them is extremely humbling.”
Turner, 48, husband to Jessica and father to Michael, 10, and Cole, 6, has been serving the West Pittston community since he joined the police force part time in 2002. In 2005, he was hired full time, in 2012 he was promoted to sergeant, in 2017 he was promoted the chief of police until the formation of the Wyoming Area Regional Police (WARP) on Jan. 1, 2023, where he has been serving as lieutenant until present day.
As of Tuesday, April 25, he was released from his doctor’s care with a clean bill of health and is now back to work full time.
Upon the resignation of WARP Chief of Police D.F. Pace, Lt. Turner has been appointed to the position of Commander-in-Chief, where he will assume his duties on June 1.
Turner does not have much recollection of the accident with the exception of shouting out, “Oh no, oh no,” as the other vehicle was about to strike his police truck before he was knocked unconscious.
He was transported to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center when they discovered he had a shattered right hip and brain trauma.
“That was a very scary moment in my life and I always said I never want someone knocking on my door to tell my wife and kids that something happened to me, and it happened that night,” Turner said. “(Friends) Dion Fernandes and Jared Jordan drove my wife to the hospital that night.”
Turner feels he had a guardian angel that fateful evening and that angel came in the form of Jimmy John Ostrowski, who just happened to be exiting Price Chopper witnessing the collision.
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Jimmy Joe Ostrowski, he saved my life,” Turner said. “If it wasn’t for his quick actions, I wouldn’t be here. He’s my hero and will be forever grateful for him.”
According to Turner, Ostrowski was the first person on the scene of the smashed vehicle. Turner was unconscious and slumped over forward and turning blue due to the lack of oxygen. Ostrowski was able to recline Turner to where he was able to breathe once again. If Ostrowski arrived any later, Turner is convinced he would have perished.
“There are other people I’m grateful for and first and foremost my wife,” Turner said. “My wife sacrificed a lot. She was my wife, my nurse, my mother, my caregiver. … She did it all, she did all … everything. My kids were supportive and were right by my side, my siblings and their families cared so much and were there for my family and me.”
Turner said, “I’m he thankful and grateful for Dr. Lee (neurologist), Dr. Saracino (ER), Dr. Victor Lopez (chief of trauma), Dr. Khoury (hip surgeon), all of Geisinger, the nurses, ICU, PCU – all A+. What they did for me and my family is just amazing.”
“When I first got to the ER, they said I was a coin-toss and to be able to be back on the job a little over four months after the accident is a miracle.”
Turner also wanted to give thanks to Fr. Paul McDonnell, Msgr. John Sempa, and Fr. James Alco for being by his side the entire time he was hospitalized.
Admittedly, Turner does not remember much while in the ICU but there was one time he remembers vividly.
“One day I looked at Fr. Paul and said, ‘I cannot believe the outpouring of support I’m receiving, I’m humbled and I’m amazed and I never expected this,” Turner recalled. “Fr. Paul looked and me and held my hand and he said, ‘Remember these words, you get what you give … you get what you give and you gave a lot Michael’ and when he said that, those words stuck with me.”
Now the Borough of West Pittston is giving back by honoring Turner as the grand marshal of the 2023 West Pittston Cherry Blossom Festival.
