Robert C. McLaughlin

Five years ago, terrorists seized control of four American airliners and caused the deaths of 2,996 innocent victims. Each of those victims was someone’s son or daughter. Most were someone’s husband or wife, brother or sister, and many were parents of those they left behind. They died in the World Trade Center in New York City. They died at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. And they died in Pennsylvania, fighting to save others on the ground. On this anniversary date, thousands of bloggers are paying tribute to one victim each, because they all deserve to be remembered.

Robert C. McLaughlin was only 29 years old. Twenty-nine years old. Yet he had already acheived the title of Vice President for Emerging Markets at Cantor Fitzgerald, with offices on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center. He had only been married to his wife Liz for a couple of years, and had a nine-month old son named Nicholas.

From the New York Times (2001)

Robert C. McLaughlin Jr. ran with the bulls in Pamplona, visited the killing fields in Cambodia and sailed the South China Sea. He played rugby and lacrosse in college, and later, as vice president for emerging markets at Cantor Fitzgerald, romped the playing fields of American capitalism. He was a man of adventure and action, a tough guy.

He also wrote poetry. This wasn't something he shared with many people, and he didn't do it often. But every now and then, when he felt particularly moved, he found his voice in verse. It happened two years ago, the night before his wedding, recalled his wife, Liz. And it happened again in April, when he began a new poem about their first child, Nicholas, now 10 months old. Like many new fathers, Mr. McLaughlin, 29, of Pelham, N.Y., was endlessly fascinated by the infinitesimal ways in which Nicholas was growing and becoming. He wrote:


Open your eyes young Nicholas
Open and see the colors
Of the world around you
Roll over young Nicholas

Roll over and see the light
Of day that awaits you
Crawl young Nicholas
Crawl and peer over the edge

Of experience that awaits you
Walk young Nicholas
Walk and find B


The last verse was a work in progress. "That's as far as he got," Mrs. McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin’s life, like all the 9/11 victims, was a work in progress also. A life cut short during an ordinary day of working and providing for his wife and infant son. A life full of promise and plans for the future. His child will grow up knowing his father only through pictures and those who knew him. The least we can do is remember him.

Memorials to Robert C. McLaughlin available on the web
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 VICTIMS
9-11 Heroes
Legacy.com
Terrorist Attack
CNN
American Memorials
Irish Tribute
United in Memory Quilt

In a related story, Liz McLaughlin testified before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on the difficulties facing the surviving familymembers of 9/11 victims.

 
2,996
Over 3,000 bloggers are taking part in the tribute project. You’ll find a list of them and the 9/11 victim they are honoring here. Go by and find more tributes to read. There’s also a list of tributes to Cantor Fitzgerald employees who died in the terrorist attacks. Pass this on to others. As we remember the terrorist attacks, we must also remember that each of the dead left behind family, friends, memories, and an unfinished life.

Some of my friends taking part in this tribute include:
Simply Left Behind
Writing from the Inside Out
Poop Happens
Enter the Laughter
House of Jacq
Clueless in Carolina
Holtie’s House
Jamie Dawn
Karen
TN Chick 
Its a Raggedy Life
A Scrappers Thoughts
Mamacita
Genuine
File it Under
On the Other Foot
Monica's Thoughts

Read more about the 2,996 project.

Robert C. McLaughlin 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attacks 2,996 Save To Del.icio.us

Comments

[Senor]

So many were cut down in their prime in the Trade Center tragedy. I need to start praying more for the families. There is such great power in prayer. Thank you for honoring this young man.

[actor212]

Pretty amazing guy, MissC. Thanks, you did a nice job.

You know, it's funny. He had the resources to do all those things he did, and yet the one thing that defined him most was the thing he was most embarassed of: his poetry.

How human.

[Chris]

Nice tribute. You've really put the pressure on the rest of us who haven't posted our entry yet.

[Marti]

Miss C, that was beautiful. I can barely type for the tears in my eyes. You did a magnificent job - exactly what these tributes are supposed to be. Thank you for participating and caring. Bless your kind and loving soul. My heart goes out to all of the families and friends sho lost someone that day.

[Dick]

Thank you for that, it was beautiful.

[Skunkfeathers]

Well done, MsC.

[Stacy]

A very nice tribute! I am also participating and appreciated your links. I've had a very hard time finding information about the person I was assigned, despite hours on the internet. Your links led me to a little more information. Thank you.

[Jamie Dawn]

Your tribute to Robert is wonderful. I will have mine up soon.
Each victim dserves to be remembered and our blog posts are a part of that memorial. Our country is still in a stare down, eye to eye with our enemies. I hope we don't lose heart.
God bless America!

[Karen]

Wonderful tribute, the unfinished poem brought tears to my eyes, as he, like all who died, had much to look forward to in their lives. God bless all who died and who were left behind.

[Raggedy]

Missed you!
Good post.
I do not see my name on the list?

I Remember Michael Benjamin Packer.

I may have lost my friend status because I have been away..
Have a wonderful day!
*^_^
(=':'=) hugs
(")_ (")Š from da Cool Raggedy one

[wendy boucher]

Very nice tribute. I have posted a tribute to John Talignani who died on Flight 93. Thanks for sharing.

[Miss Cellania]

Of course not, Raggedy! I didn't know you were participating, sicne I was going by who had it on their sidebar.

[walker]

Very Nice Tribute.

The innocent deserve to be remembered.

[Jaci]

Thank you for commenting on the blog I wrote honoring Michael Haub. I, too, am crying reading yours. I've said it in a couple of others, as soon as I start reading any of them, I start crying all over again and my heart is so heavy. Thank you again!

[Peter]

As usual Miss C, you have done an exceptional job in your tribute, I plan to leave mine up for a few days while I go around the world reading others.

[LAZY Blogger]

Ms. C. ~ It does us all good to remember (AND NEVER FORGET)! Nicely done here! Thanks! ~ jb///

[brian]

Thank you for sharing his words and love for his family. He is not just a number but a real person in our hearts. Very moving tribute.

PLease stop by to my tribute post for Gilbert, and leave a link and comment so that others can come here to read.

[onetallmomma]

That was a beautiful tribute to a life well lived.

Mine can be found here.

[Miss Cellania]

Sorry, html doesn't work in the comments here, but I found it.

One Tall Mama
http://onetallmomma.blogspot.com/2006/09/gerald-michael-olcott.html

[Jean-Luc Picard]

An excellent tribute, MC; well done.

[bernie]

I need to do some grocery shopping and so before I go my wife asks me if I'm going to go out looking like I just lost a boxing match. My eyes are puffed and my nose is running. Reading 100 tributes can make you look terrible.

Wonderful post, yours.


I linked to your tribute from <a href="http://plancksconstant.org/blog1/2006/09/2996_tribute_to_vict.html">2996 tribute to victims of 9/11 - Terrence E Adderley</a>

[Mysterious Lady]

A very lovely tribute. Too many good lives lost that day.

mines up also.

[Jeff]

It's so easy to simply allow ourselves to forget that there were real people who died in this terrible tradegy, espcially since most of us didn't know any of them personally. Thanks to people like you, we now have a face and story to go with the name. You did a beautiful job of showing us the kind of person Robert was. Thank you.

And thank you for visiting my tribute as well.

[MotherPie]

How can this post be posted on Monday 9/11 when it isn't 9/11 yet???
Just wanted you to know you're on my blogroll!

<a href="http://motherpie.typepad.com/motherpie/files/motherpies_blogroll_and_blog_friends-19.html">MotherPie's Blogroll and Blog Friends</a>

Cheers

[kkt]

He sounds like a very complex guy. Beautiful tribute. Mine is at http://jedisue.blogspot.com

[Jacq]

Miss C: You did him very well with your words. I, too, am moving along as well as any of us can in the next few days. I appreciate very much your comments. Thank you.

[Chris]

Ok, I've got mine up. Again, you did an excellent job with this entry.

[Barbara]

Very nice tribute, Miss C. Its been meaningful to be a part of this

[Lori]

This is a great tribute. Thanks so much for writing it.

[Cheryl (another 2,996-er)]

Another amazing life...You did a wonderful job paying tribute to him!