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Ortt: November storm victims honored

by jmaloni

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Mon, Jan 26th 2015 04:50 pm

During legislative session in Senate Chambers Monday, State Sen. Robert Ortt, R-C-I-North Tonawanda, took a few minutes to thank Niagara Falls resident Barnette Burton, 63, for joining him in Albany to remember her son and the 12 others who lost their lives in the November storm. A ceremonious declaration was read aloud in honor of her son, Delancey Scott, 47, who froze to death.

Burton took a 6:30 a.m. train out of Niagara Falls today to join Ortt and other state senators in Albany for the commemoration.

"I'm so honored to be here in memory of my son," she said. "The senator paid for this trip out of pocket, because I couldn't afford to go. Doing this for Delancey and the others who died in the storm is so special. It means a lot to me and I know it does for my son, too. I'm sure he's up in Heaven smiling."

Those on the Senate floor paused in a moment of silence after the resolution was read.

"Ms. Burton took a tremendous journey today to honor her son's memory," Ortt said. "She came here to honor her son, Delancey Scott, who we lost in November's tragic storm, and today we mourn. Delancey had a huge heart and left behind a daughter. It is my hope that the actions we take today will help his legacy, and the legacy of all of the victims, live on."

Ortt sponsored the November Winter Storm of 2014 resolution drawn up by State Sen. Tim Kennedy, D-I-WF-Buffalo.

"Millions of dollars were spent cleaning up from the epic four-day storm that hit our region in November, but the financial costs pale in comparison to the human cost," Kennedy said. "There are now 13 families with an empty seat at the table, and a hole in their hearts that will never be filled. While we can never ease that pain, the very least we could do at a state level is recognize those lives lost, and make sure that the memories of those Western New Yorkers are never forgotten."

Burton said her son served in the Army and Army National Guard before retiring. He lived in Niagara Falls and is survived by his daughter, brother, sister and father.

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