Friday a fallen Marine was forever memorialized for his sacrifice. 28-year-old Sergeant Chris Zimmerman of Austin was killed in Iraq in 2006.
Artist Phil Taylor began painting fallen Texas soldiers several years ago when his friend's son died in the war. Recently, he chose Chris Zimmerman. We were with his family when they got the first glimpse.
It has been more than two years since Sgt. Chris Zimmerman made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our freedom in Iraq. Today he lives on the hearts of those who loved him most.
"Chris was such a prankster and such a jokester, he always had a smile. He was a ringleader. He learned early in life to live life to the fullest, and he did," mother Faith Zimmerman said.
Mom Faith Zimmerman says he was also a protector; which is why he went straight into the marines after high school. He served five years, but then re-enlisted after the events of September 11th. He died five years later almost to the day.
"When your son is killed, everything stops. The e-mails stop, the phone calls stop, the letters stop. The jokes, the pranks," Zimmerman said.
An artist has found a way to bring Chris back to life.
"If a portrait's of high quality, and I hope that's the case with my work, then it has the opportunity to bring a soldier home, reconcile them and restore them back into the place where they were taken. And that, in this case, is the Zimmerman house," artist Phil Taylor said.
Phil Taylor founded the Texas Fallen Soldiers Project as a way to recognize soldiers who lost their lives in battle. On Friday, Taylor unveiled a painting of Chris before his friends and family at the state capitol.
"Look at that sparkle. Look at that smirk. That's my boy," said Zimmerman at the first glance.
It was the reaction Taylor was hoping for.
"It's just remarkable the price that they paid, and so what little I do is not enough, but I hope it brings them some sense of joy and comfort," Taylor said.
"It will help bring him to us, but it will also help bring him and keep them remembering. That's the biggest thing to our family, is that Chris' service and sacrifice is never forgotten," Zimmerman said.
Taylor does these paintings for free. He hopes to get to every fallen soldier across the state. If you'd like him to recognize your loved one click on the link below.
www.texasfallensoldiers.com
