Memorial Day is set aside to remember the sacrifices of the men and women who died in service to their country. Do people affiliated with the military believe that other Americans appreciate their work? The following chart utilizes data from some of our newer surveys (collected between fall 2017 and spring 2025, N=4090).

Over half of the young people surveyed do believe that Americans appreciate Veterans’ sacrifices (55.8%). Cadets, especially academy cadets, are less likely to believe that the average person appreciates their work. ROTC cadets, who interact with civilian students while in training to become officers, see things a bit more like their civilian peers. Perhaps ROTC cadets receive more feedback from their civilian counterparts during their training.

Memorial Day celebrations will continue today. We know from these data that most people affiliated with the military appreciate the support they receive but more awareness of military lifestyle and culture would help to bridge any gaps that exist between the military and broader society.