The "why" of Memorial Day.

Why do we gather here today? Many forget what today truly means. We view it as a day where many of us enjoy a day off of work, a day with our families, perhaps having a BBQ or watching a movie with our families and, for many, the start of summer vacation. The name for today has changed a few times throughout the history of our nation, from Dedication Day in 1868, to only recently in 1970 the name we recognize today as Memorial Day.  It is not a day for Veterans, or those currently serving, but rather for those who have given their lives to this great nation. 

This is the day we pay homage to all those who didn’t come home. This is not Veterans Day, it’s not a celebration, it is a day of solemn contemplation over the cost of freedom.

Throughout history the brave men and women of our country have raised their right hand, and have taken an oath, that never expires, to protect our great nation from enemies both foreign and domestic, and with that oath they have given our nation its greatest asset - a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including THEIR LIVES."

 Our Veterans who gave it all had a belief that is best said in the words of General Patton

“It's better to fight for something in life than to die for nothing.”

For love of country, they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and immortalized their patriotism and their virtue.

See we wouldn't be standing here today, we would not be able to enjoy the truly AWE inspiring freedoms that we have today if men and woman had not taken that oath before us and paid for those rights with blood, from the battles of Lexington and Concord, to Pearl Harbor and Iwo Jima, D-Day, and to the wars fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

We have rights that we all, to casually take for granted – rights that many in the world do not enjoy. In all other countries, the collective rights of the nation have been established as primary, and the rights of its individual citizens as secondary. The founding fathers of the United States flipped this notion on its head - identifying and implementing the principles that the purpose of government is to secure individual rights and that governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed.

Those rights we take for granted every day are precious and all the more so precious when we remember that not only do people of other nations do not have them, but that we do for the sole reason that American patriots died to give you those rights. You have, for example, the right to a fair trial, the right to pray to whom you want to, or to not pray at all.  We enjoy unfettered access to information, the ability to travel, to vote, to start a business, even to post photos on Instagram that elsewhere in the world would literally get one imprisoned, if not, killed.  In one country, it is even illegal to chew gum!  In America we believe all persons are created equal and all have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

These “rights” are not FREE; however. This freedom is not FREE.

The enemy is at our door and always will be because we, as the United States of America, are a beacon of hope and freedom that many wish to see in their own countries. There are those foreign governments, who wish to oppress and control their people, that HATE that we are that beacon of hope, that HATE that we are that pillar of FREEDOM in the world. As G.K Chesterton, the English writer, philosopher and lay theologian, said,

“Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die."

Courage is exemplified by those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, by those who were ready to die for YOU, to protect your opinions, your liberty, your life.

So take today to honor those courageous men and women.  Remember what your freedom costs.  Its cost cannot be calculated in so many words or speeches.  Its cost cannot be calculated in terms of money.  But rather, its cost is measured in something much more valuable, blood. It is the blood of a Father, a Mother, a Son or Daughter that ALLOWS us to be here today, to have this day off to spend with our families. To have the ability to do as we please, say what we want and to have the right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

It is our responsibility to remind ourselves, our children and those around us that we are those who have long enjoyed such privileges. Let us not forget in time that men & women have died to win these privileges for us. So let us not forget, the ultimate price paid. 

Let us be vigilant in the preservation of these freedoms that were so difficult to win and secure. As a Veteran myself I have had my brothers and sisters die to protect these truths, these freedoms. And many have been scarred from the toll of fighting for these freedoms, and have lost the battle of fighting the demons of the trauma even after they have left the war zone. Let us not forget this sacrifice that our heroic service members have given.  We all need to have an immense and humbling gratitude for them, the known and the unknown who have given it all as they paved the way for others to be able to serve and pick up the torch and continue our fight to secure and safeguard these freedoms. Without the sacrifice of these brave men and women, the freedoms we enjoy today would not have been possible. 

  As we express our gratitude for those who have gone before and offered up the ultimate sacrifice that a citizen can give to this nation, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.

So I leave you with a challenge today, enjoy your time with your families today, enjoy your ability to drive on the road freely, to pray or not, to speak your mind freely, to believe in what you want as you see fit, but remember how we got there, with the blood of patriots. But don't just honor and remember in thoughts and words. Remember in your actions.  We all have a part we can play to safeguard and keep for ourselves and for those who follow us, what was so difficult to win. Help your neighbors, and those who are strangers to you, and live in a manner that honors that ultimate sacrifice - be a patriot.

- Ivan Gonick

PS: I hope you have had a weekend that was able to be spent with family, friends and one that opens your eyes to the reason why we have the freedoms we do. I hope these words inspire you, I am blessed to have been given the honor and responsibility to speak at this event, I feared that I would not live up to what was asked as I had struggled for weeks to find the words needed for such an important day, This morning on Memorial Day, the words came to me and I truly hope they inspire you. Thank you. As my father always said to me, “Be Good, Do Good”.

Memorial Day

Considering Solar? 4 Key Reasons To Start Today

An increasing number of homeowners nationwide are beginning to make the switch to solar power. The writing on the wall is clear: solar power is more than just a trendy renewable energy source: it is an opportunity for energy independence. Whether driving around town or perhaps just walking around your neighborhood, you may start to notice solar panels on a wide range of buildings and houses. If you’ve ever considered making the switch, here are 4 key reasons why you should start today.

Financially Efficient Energy

Each and every day, the sun emits more Kilowatts of energy than we could possibly ever use on Earth. Best of all, energy companies will never be able to monetize and restrict access to sunlight for homeowners. As a result, you control your energy supply. The longer you use solar panels, the better the financial incentive. After all, energy from the sun is free

Environmentally Friendly

Unlike gas, oil, or coal, solar energy is an incredibly green renewable energy source. By adding solar panels to your home, you’re minimizing our country’s carbon footprint while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The only ‘“fuel” needed for solar panels is a water source. By making the switch, you can feel good about your role in fostering a more sustainable future for the generations to come.

Improved Consistency

Over the years, power outages, blackouts, and grid failures have received newsworthy attention. No matter how stable your power provider says their grid is, there’s always a risk of energy shortages when you’re not capable of producing your own energy. By implementing solar panels, you simultaneously free yourself from the holds of energy providers.

Job Creation

As a responsible home owner, you have a vested interest in the economic wellbeing of this great nation. By adding solar panels to your home, you’re supporting thousands of hardworking Americans. In turn, your state and local economy benefits from job growth and a diversified income avenue.

At Veteran Solar, we fully understand that there are more solar providers to choose from now than ever before. Our veteran owned and operated company is proud to provide top-tier quality and dependability for solar energy. If you’re interested in learning more, please feel free to reach out to us using our appointment form. We look forward to hearing from you, and hope you gained valuable information and insight from our blog post!

Considering Solar

Solar ITC and what it means for you!

“The Solar ITC goes down in 2020 to 26%”

What does this mean for you? It can mean missing out on thousands of dollars in savings! For the average sized solar system in the US it can mean a difference of close to $10,000 dollars.

To break down the full current tax credit Schedule lets take a look at this image:

This is the current schedule assuming the Federal Government does not change it between now and the end of the year.

Now how late is to late to act in 2019 you might ask? To take full advantage of the 30% tax credit in 2019 the project must have commenced construction. Looking at historical deadline rushes in the industry it would be recommended to have signed up for your solar system no later than the 1st of December 2019.

As long as you own your solar energy system, you are eligible for the solar investment tax credit. Even if you don’t have enough tax liability to claim the entire credit in one year, you can “roll over” the remaining credits into future years for as long as the tax credit is in effect.

How do I claim the investment tax credit?

You claim the investment tax credit for solar when you file your yearly federal tax return. Remember to let your accountant know you’ve gone solar in the past year, or if you file your own taxes make sure that you check the box for the ITC.

You are eligible for the Federal ITC as long as you own your solar energy system, rather than lease it.

If your federal tax liability is lower than the total amount of your ITC savings, you can still take advantage of it by carrying over any remaining credits to the following year.

Here’s an example: You pay $20,000 to install a solar system on your home in 2018, which means you are eligible for a $6,000 federal solar tax credit. If your federal tax liability for 2018 is only $4,500, you will owe no federal taxes that year, and in 2019, you will reduce your tax liability by $1,500.

Updated as of 4/16/2019

Tesla/Solar City Leaving the Arizona Market?

Tesla/Solar City is leaving the Arizona Market, in addition, Tesla plans to close 13 solar installation facilities in California, Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, New York, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Delaware, Reuters reports. 

What does that mean for me?

With the exit of Tesla from the market, any warranty work will still be honored on your system but it will be completed by a local install company much like Great Home Solar! 

What if I want Solar?

This is where you get super lucky! Veteran Solar, has the ability to quote out every system on the market making us your one-stop shop for a Great Solar system here in the valley. We can quote out SunRun, Sunpower, Dividend, and Mosaic system. We have panels ranging from 310W Q-Cell to 360W Sunpower Panels. Allowing us to find the right fit for your needs! 

Reach out to us today for your FREE consultation! 

Arizona Market

The Why... Why did we go solar?

We created Veteran Solar because we love helping people save money. One of our favorite motivational talks to give to our brothers and sisters in arms is our Money Talk. It helped people save money, invest for the future, and pay off debt faster. It motivated people to take charge of their finances.

Veteran Solar is another way for us to serve people to save money. In the field we’ve found that most people hate dealing with the electric company, not knowing what their bill is going to be next month and paying a bill with sometimes ridiculous charges on it.

Currently, over 80% of America’s energy is produced by non-renewable sources, ~60% fossil fuels and ~20 nuclear. All of that waste goes into the atmosphere of the earth.

Solar is the best way to relieve the stress and pain that comes with the electric bill and be good to the earth. The world is moving in a way where we take better care of the planet and give more power to the people. Helping people own their own clean power plant on the roof of their home, absorbing energy from the sun that’s already there is part of our solution to help you and the planet.

Our vision is to see solar on the roof of every home in America that could use it, and create a network of sharing power between homes!