The young publishers, one in high school, one in college, and the rest, college graduates, endeavor to fulfill their mission: “Honoring the Sacrifices of America’s Veterans.”

Their work has culminated in the publication of a newsletter that grew into an aviation magazine that has now evolved and expanded to become Valor Magazine, a magazine of national scope in tribute to the men and women of the U.S. Military who have served in the air, on the land, and at sea.

HOW IT STARTED
Back in 1994, while only middle-school students, brothers Adam and Bryan Makos and their friend, Joe Gohrs, searched for a way to share their interest in aviation with others. Inspired by the WWII service stories of the Makos’ grandfathers, Michael Makos and Francis Panfili, they began producing, on a family computer, a two-page publication called The Ghost Wings Newsletter. The newsletter, sent to family, friends, and schoolmates, derived its name from a B-17 bomber that had vanished in-flight “like a ghost,” its crew lost to this day.

In May 1999, nearly five years after the newsletter was first published, Ghost Wings, the magazine, took flight. Amazingly, these young entrepreneurs are self-taught in creating, designing, and publishing a magazine. They raised the funds to produce the first issue with the money from Editor Adam Makos’ car savings. As a senior in high school at the time, he decided that producing Ghost Wings was more important to him than using his savings for a car.

AN EVOLUTION
For years, Ghost Wings was solely devoted to telling the stories of veterans who served in the skies, during WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the Cold War. Now, with the debut of Valor Magazine, the staff has expanded the scope of their work. In the tradition of Ghost Wings, Valor Magazine will continue to publish the human-interest stories of American veterans. However, the publication now includes the accounts of military personnel of all branches who have served in the air, on the land, and at sea. As always, the magazine’s emphasis will be to preserve and then present the stories of aging veterans before such valuable history is lost to the ages.

THE FUTURE
The staff of Valor Magazine maintains the goal established by Ghost Wings, to make a special effort to extend their magazine to middle school, high school, and college classrooms across America. Valor Magazine will continue to serve an important role to inform and educate people of all ages as to the significance of our nation’s military history and the importance of remembering the lessons of the past.