Remarks as delivered

John A. Squires

Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO

USPTO Military Association Veterans Day Event

"Veterans Helping Veterans and Their Families"

Alexandria, Virginia

November 5, 2026

Good morning, everyone.

Thank you, Robin and Troy-and all the members of the UMA-for all the amazing and purposeful work in planning, in partnering, in the thoughtful attention to every detail to make this event so meaningful. And yes, to be together.

And the parade of colors and our Patenteers-wow, just fantastic and inspiring-thank you.

My fellow USPTO colleagues, what an honor it is to be here today on America's Innovation Agency's campus with all of you who have sworn the oath, worn the uniform, fought to preserve our way of life-the American way.

From the bottom of our hearts, our heartfelt thanks and appreciation.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower in his 1954 Veterans Day proclamation, the first official one after Congress renamed Armistice Day, "Veterans Day," remarked:

"On that day let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain."

His timeless words capture both gratitude for service and the profound purpose of service: lasting peace.

Today, we honor your courage and your service and thank you for the sacrifices you have made, and for your choice to continue to serve as civilians.

As I mentioned, my family was a Navy family. My father, stationed here in Norfolk, served under Admiral McCain-former Senator John McCain's father-and on a ship blockading Cuba during the missile crisis. He was duty officer on the USS Monrovia, a troop transporter, on the day when President Kennedy gave the blockade order and the order said, "This is not a drill."

As you know, my wife Mary Lou-who wishes she could be here with you today-she's with her mother down in Florida this month, Mary Lou's father was Army, serving in American-occupied Japan during the Korean War. As a young man, who signed up maybe-just saying-at an age a little young, he tells the story that he and his unit were on the bow of a ship headed to their deployment in Japan, seasick as all get out-and yes, I can hear the snickers of our Navy veterans-just green and hanging on the railing, he looks up to see two wakes fast-moving towards him, closing in. He can't even let his brothers know there's a torpedo in the water and suddenly, the trails go right under the ship, right where he was standing, and he braced himself-only to see that the torpedoes in the water were… dolphins, racing the ship and showing off their stuff. He must have told that story a thousand times and I loved hearing it, every time.

All those who served, no matter what branch you served in, know that you are our heroes and that your service is forever appreciated. And never stop telling us your stories, because it puts us there with you as close as we can be to supporting your service.

As we recognize Veterans Day, it is with extreme pride that I note the USPTO's incredibly vibrant veteran community, with nearly 1,000 veterans and military spouses. Not to mention-but I will again, and again, and again-we are also recognized as a "top veteran-friendly employer" among the entire federal government.

You are truly instrumental in contributing to USPTO's success.

Our veteran community is so unique and integral to the American "Experiment" itself, the American "Experience" itself. And an incredible example of veterans continuing to answer the call to serve their country as civilians. You are the very essence of American "Exceptionalism" itself.

And this exceptionalism, it ties us to the lifeblood of our nation-American ingenuity-and the USPTO's critical role has been at work a very long time.

Consider Charles Gilbert Gould, who served in the U.S. Army during the American Civil War. Gould would go on to become a patent-holding inventor and a U.S. Patent Office employee.

As a captain with the 5th Vermont Infantry, he is widely credited as being the first Union Soldier to break through the Confederate defenses surrounding Petersburg, Virginia in 1865. This contributed to the fall of Richmond and eventually the end of the war later that month.

Gould would later enter civilian federal service, eventually becoming a patent examiner. And if that wasn't enough, he also received U.S. Patent No. 143,139 for his improvement in gun cleaners in 1873. Talk about applied knowledge!

Like Charles Gould, the impact and contributions of veterans like you go beyond your time in uniform. As veterans, you are protectors of our past, and as USPTO employees, you are stewards of our future-vanguards of American ingenuity.

I am so, so proud to work alongside you. Thank you for your service. And may God continue to bless you and God Bless the United States of America.

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