– Today, and every year on September 11th, as we remember and pray for all of the victims and the families who lost loved ones on 911, It is my privilege to share a personal tribute to an old classmate and teammate of mine from my time at Penn Charter H.S, Peter Ortale. Although, I only spent one year with Peter at P.C., we became pretty good buddies. We played freshman football together, we had some of the same classes together and, for a brief time, we were on the wrestling team together.

Maybe we got along so well because we came from similar union backgrounds, as my father, Joe, and Peter’s uncle, Pete McDonough, were both union iron workers out of Iron Worker’s Local 401 (which is the union that I would eventually join) and ironically, they would also both serve together as union officials at 401 years later.

When I think back to the brief time we spent together in the days of our early youth, I still have several fond memories of Peter; I remember he was a good student in the classroom, a fierce competitor on the athletic fields and he was a really cool guy who was easy to hang out with. However, the 2 things that I remember most about Peter Ortale, were his smilish grin and his positive energy. He was always up beat. No matter the situation, he was a smiling face that you could depend on to brighten up even the worst of days.

Case in point, the Freshman year wrestling team. Pete and I had just finished playing football in the Fall and I personally had looked forward to having the winter season off before baseball tryouts in the Spring. Unfortunately, the wrestling coach at the time, Mr. Mellor, had other plans for me and Pete when he approached us in the hallway and recruited us to fill the voids on the freshman wrestling team at the 147 LB and the 139lb weight classes. Well, as much as I didn’t want to do it, Peter was pretty persistent in his efforts to convince me that, for some reason, it was a good thing. I remember telling him, Pete, there’s one thing your forgetting, the wrestling season starts in like one week and neither one of us has ever wrestled a day in our lives. Are you crazy? Well, Pete somehow persuaded me to give it a shot and I wish I could tell you that the rest is history and we both went on to have stellar high school, college then Olympic wrestling careers but this is not ESPN or the Biography Channel and this sports moment had a much different, albeit more humorous conclusion.

The next thing you know we were struggling at our first wrestling practices, which by the way, were so hard that they made football practices seem like a day at the beach. Finally, after a week of the practices from hell, it was the day of the big first match and we sat next to each other on the chairs watching, talking and waiting for our turn to wrestle. We were competing against the number one wrestling team in the public league, Simon Gratz, and from what I remember, it was a real tough match. We won some of the early matches and we lost some. Anyway, finally it came down to the last two matches, Pete’s and mine. Pete went first and he used his athletic ability to wrap up and pin his opponent in the middle of the second period just like that. It was awesome. I was thinking man, that doesn’t look too hard. I can do that! Well, as it was, the fate of my short lived wrestling career would take a vastly different turn than Peter’s as I went out on to the mat on that cold winter day and gave it the best 47 seconds of my life. Ultimately, I ended up in some kind of pretzel move that had me staring face to face with my lower extremities LOL! I remember when I got back to the bench, I was pretty dejected and Pete was the first to greet me with a pat on the back and encouragement saying that it was OK and that I almost had the guy or something like that!!! It was classic Peter Ortale, exactly the way I remember him. He didn’t want me to feel bad about myself.

After my freshman year, I transferred to Roman Catholic HS and Peter stayed at Penn Charter and we saw each other only occasionally at H.S. sporting events and he was always the same great guy that gave you a warm hello and friendly smile. After high school, we kept in touch only via well wishes at the union hall through his uncle Pete McDonough, Hey Pete, Tell Peter I said, hi! Hey Joey, Peter Ortale said to say hello!

The last time I saw him, I ran into him randomly outside the Cottman Mall in Northeast Philadelphia and we talked about old times and mutual friends from Penn charter for about 15 minutes like time had never skipped a beat. As we said our good byes, I can still remember his warm and comforting smile that once again made you feel better for the experience.

Peter Ortale was 37 and working for Euro Brokers on the 84th floor of the South Tower on Sept. 11, 2001. After the attack, he made three phone calls: to his wife, his mother and a friend in California before heading for the stairs. He did not reach the bottom.

Peter, you are missed by many and never forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and all of those taken from us on that unthinkable September Day!

Rest In Peace Old Friend!

Sincerely,
Joe Dougherty
PhillyLabor
Today In Phillylabor Radio

For a remembrance of Peter Ortale, go to – https://today.duke.edu/2011/09/ortale

By The Pa. AFL-CIO

Labor Day is a day to honor working people and the contributions we make to our country. As we celebrate this weekend with our families and friends, we must keep in mind that there are many workers in this country who will not be so fortunate. Too many people today work second and third jobs just to make ends meet, and that is not ok.

Labor Day is often considered a holiday that marks the end of Summer or the start of the home stretch of the November election. While we are in the middle of a campaign season unlike any other, we must not forget who we are fighting for: workers and their families.

This Labor Day, let’s pledge to strengthen the fight for working people and their families. Get involved this year; it’s just too important to stand aside.

Saturday, September 3

Blair-Bedford CLC/Johnstown-Somerset CLC
Altoona Labor Day Parade
Step Off at 10am
Green Avenue and Ninth Street
Altoona, PA 16601

Labor Hall Picnic
Starts at 11am
Location:
Blair-Bedford Central Labor Council
302 East Wopsononock Avenue, Altoona, PA 16601

Sunday, September 4

Greater Westmoreland CLC
Labor United Celebration
Sunday, September 4: 11am -7pm &
Monday, September 5: 10am – 6pm
Location:
Northmoreland Park
280 Markle Rd, Apollo, PA 15613

Monday, September 5

Allegheny County CLC
Labor Day Parade
Step Off at 10am
Location
21st and Smallman Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Speakers: Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Tim Kaine

Greater Wilkes-Barre CLC
Labor Day Festival
Time: 10am-5pm
Location:
Kirby Park
160 Market Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18704

Harrisburg Regional CLC
Labor Day Breakfast
Time: 8:30 am
Location:
AFSCME Conference Center
150 South 43rd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17111

Lehigh Valley CLC
Pete DePietro Labor Day Picnic
Time: 12pm – 5pm
Location:
Wayne Grube Park
1200 Willowbrook Road
Northampton, PA 18067

Mercer County CLC
Buhl Day Parade
Step Off at 9:30
Assembling Location:
2525 East State Street
Hermitage, PA 16148

Northwest PA ALF
Labor Day Parade
Step Off at 10am
Location:
11th and State Street (to Perry Square)
Erie, PA 16501

Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO
29th Annual Tri-State Family Celebration and Parade
Parade Time: Speaking program at 9am / Step off at 10am
Location:
Sheetmetal Workers LU 19
1301 South Columbus Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19148

Celebration Time: Starts at 11:30 AM
Location:
Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing
101 South Columbus Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19106

Washington Green CLC
Labor Day Picnic
Time: 12pm – 4pm
Location:
South Strabane Fireman’s Picnic Grounds
1696 East Maiden Street
Washington, PA 15301

York-Adams CLC
Labor Day Celebration
Time: 8am-8pm (Fireworks at dusk)
Location:
Kiwanis Lake
York, PA 17404

Source – http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=6994

– On Labor Day, we carve out time to recognize and honor the wonderful achievements of America’s working people. Many of us will spend the day with close family and dear friends at a barbecue, picnic or other community event. While we enjoy the fellowship of our loved ones, it is important to reflect on what strengthens and nurtures the lives and communities of working people and how we can continue to protect our ability to make a good living that will sustain our families.

This Labor Day, we are asking working families across the country to take action and commit to improving the lives of all working people by voting, for a better life. On November 8, 2016, working people will flock to the polls to support policies and candidates that are dedicated to creating fundamental, lasting change for everyone, not just the wealthy few.

Find a Labor Day Event Near You at – https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/labor-day-2016-find-an-event-near-you

Source – http://www.pa.aflcio.org/philaflcio/