Cato (WSYR-TV) – The mother of a fallen Vietnam War soldier has gotten her special license plates back. The plates were presented to her in honor of her son,
but were taken away by the Department of Motor Vehicles when she gave up her driver’s license and took her car off the road.
“I hated that day,” Barnes said. “In fact, I was crying.”
When State Senator Patty Richie heard the story of 89-year-old Ethel Barnes, she reached to the DMV. Although the plates had already been destroyed, the DMV agreed to fashion new ones.
The plates were presented to Barnes at her home in Cato on Thursday.
“It is just so amazing,” Barnes said. “I just can’t believe it has worked out so good.”
Ritchie believes the gesture was one of the highlights of her political career.
“It really was one of the best things I've been able to do,” she said. “For me personally, coming from being a county clerk for the last 11 years, I knew a little about the rules and regulations that could help get the plate back.”
Barnes said that her son – Robert Barnes - would have approved of the effort.
“I know Bob would be so proud to know that I had gotten them back,” she said. “It seems like I've got a part of him back.”
