As Americans across the country honor those who have died in military service this Memorial Day, a large majority continues to give the military high marks. In a May 2008 survey, more than eight-in-ten Americans (84%) offered very or somewhat favorable opinions of the armed forces, up six points from July 2007. Positive ratings of the military have not fallen below 75% since 1990. Positive views reached 94% in March 1991, shortly after the Persian Gulf War. In the 2008 survey, Republicans were more likely than Democrats to offer favorable views of the military, and conservatives and moderates were more likely than liberals to offer positive ratings. There is virtually no difference in opinion by gender. Read More

Russell Heimlich  is a former web developer at Pew Research Center.