Twenty five years ago, the United States endured one of the darkest days in its history. On September 11, 2001, al Qaeda terrorists led by Osama bin Laden hijacked four airliners. Three were flown into iconic targets—the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers fought back. Nearly 3,000 people were killed, and thousands more injured.

Two decades later, the Never Forget Fund, launched by 9/11 Memorial & Museum trustees Russell L. Carson, Kenneth I. Chenault, and Scott Rechler, secured $25 million in initial gifts to support education. “As our nation approaches the 25th anniversary of one of the darkest days in its history, we must redouble our efforts to ensure Americans never forget what happened on 9/11 and how we responded,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, Chairman of the Museum.

Yet bin Laden’s ideology continues to cast a shadow. His attempt to weaken the U.S. economy and drive American forces from the Middle East failed, but his message still inspires militants worldwide—calling for the killing of Americans and Westerners. ISIS, claiming to be a lQaeda’s rival, has copied elements of bin Laden’s legacy, amplifying his narrative of global jihad. After a decade of relentless surveillance, bin Laden was killed in May 2011 by........

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