Son of Fallen 9/11 Firefighter Joins Ranks of Father’s First Firehouse
On Monday, FDNY probationary firefighter Brendan Stackpole officially joined the firehouse where his late father, Capt. Timothy M. Stackpole, began his FDNY career.
Chief Curator Tells Story Behind ‘Maya’s’ Challenge Coin
Chief Curator Tells Story Behind ‘Maya’s’ Challenge Coin
Operation Neptune Spear commemorative coins. Collection of 9/11 Memorial Museum, gift of CIA officer "Maya." Photo by Jenny Pachucki.
On May 2, 2011, the 10-year quest to bring al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden to justice ended with the U.S. Navy SEAL’s successful execution of Operation Neptune Spear. In the spring of 2014, 9/11 Memorial Museum staff received a donation of a military-issued challenge coin that commemorates the work of the United States military, national security and intelligence communities to successfully carry out this mission. The coin is on view in the museum with other artifacts that tell the story of this raid.
The coin was donated to the museum by the CIA operative known by the alias “Maya” who had devoted her career to tracking bin Laden. It was her intelligence that helped to locate the location of bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Kathryn Bigelow presents a dramatized account of “Maya’s” story in the popular 2012 film, Zero Dark Thirty.
Listen to Chief Curator Jan Ramirez recount her meeting with “Maya” and explain the story behind this special artifact.
By Jenny Pachucki, 9/11 Memorial Content Strategist
Previous Post
Next Post
Yellow Roses on 9/11 Memorial Pay Tribute on Veterans Day
In honor of Veterans Day, we pay tribute to the 9/11 victims who served in the United States military by placing yellow roses in their names at the 9/11 Memorial.