Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is highlighting the contributions of the military in helping avert a repeat of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

After a moment of silence at 9:37 am EDT -- the exact time the Pentagon was hit by the hijacked jetliner a decade ago -- Panetta
paid tribute Sunday to those who have served in uniform in the decade since.

He said more than 6,200 members of the U.S. military have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since the Sept. 11 attacks.

Vice President Joe Biden also attended the remembrance ceremony,
and President Barack Obama plans to lay a wreath at the Pentagon's
9/11 memorial later Sunday.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)