Shadowbox
- Description
- V-42 commemorative stiletto (also known as a fighting knife) made from recovered World Trade Center steel and mounted in a decorative shadow box. The knife is double-edged with a leather handle and a pointed end on the butt of the handle. The knife is displayed in a shadowbox with the Twin Towers depicted to the right of the knife. There is a small dimensional replica of the America's Response Monument towards the bottom of the frame.
Printed on the glass of the shadowbox, at the top, is the text "September 11 Memorial V-42;" an illustration of an eagle about to grasp the stiletto in its talons is printed below. Surrounding the illustration is text that reads: "Task Force Dagger | Strength and Honor."
The phrase "De Oppresso Liber" is engraved on the bottom of the wood frame of the shadowbox. The Latin phrase is the motto of the United States Army Special Forces and translates to "To Free the Oppressed" or "Free from the Oppressor." - Historical Notes
- On November 9, 2017, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum was given one of three special V-42 commemorative daggers forged from World Trade Center steel, presented by the U.S. Special Forces Association (Chapter 28) and America’s Response Monument Trust. The Museum served as a surrogate for the City of New York, whose citizens were the innocent victims of the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
Curator's Comment
In 2010, General John Mulholland was commanding the U.S. Army Special Operations group when he and several colleagues conceived a plan to create a series of commemorative V-42 daggers to recognize the impact of 9/11 on the American people and the contributions of special groups, partners and members of the armed forces in furthering the mission of Operation Enduring Freedom. For this tribute project, he reached out to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to request a piece of recovered steel from the World Trade Center, which was granted. In the minds of these senior military leaders, that steel was a sacred material, essential to the authenticity that knives would embody.
- Accession Number: C.2024.53.1
- Dimensions: 17 in X 13 in X 2.5 in
- Dimensions (Metric): 43.18 cm X 33.02 cm X 6.35 cm
- Source: Bob Brugh
- Credit Line: Gift of U.S. Special Forces Association (Chapter 28) and America’s Response Monument Trust
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