Gaffney High senior Jordan Mages holds the artwork she painted in her advanced placement art class to capture the emotion over the loss of a fallen soldier. Mages plans to present the painting to the family of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Chris Fowlkes. Almost every painting has a meaning behind it along with a reason for creating the work of art.

Gaffney High senior Jordan Mages decided to capture the loss of a fallen soldier in a painting she will present to the family of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Chris Fowlkes. She worked on the painting shortly after she learned about Fowlkes’ death Sept. 10 from injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated in Afghanistan.

“The day when I heard the news of Lance Cpl. Chris Fowlkes’ death, it hit me really hard,” Mages said. “I did not know Chris well enough to call him a friend, but I did talk to him a couple of times. I appreciate what he did for our country.”

Mages has several family members who served in the military.

Her father, Jeff, is in the U.S. Army Reserves and recently spent a year serving in Afghanistan. Her grandfather was in the U.S. Marines.

“For any soldier, I show the utmost respect, not because of their title, but for what they represent and have sacrificed for our country,” Mages said. “There is a bond soldiers form while serving together in the military. They become like family members because they have to depend on each other to survive.”

Mages completed her painting while waiting to go to football practice, where she is a student athletic trainer. Using paint sticks, the Gaffney High student crafted her artwork so people can draw their own conclusion from viewing the soldiers’ faces in the painting.

“Many soldiers make it home to their families without an injury... but many have given the ultimate sacrifice – their lives,” Mages said. “This painting can have a different meaning to whomever views it and makes a connection. After I was finished, I looked at it and thought I have seen something that was heartbreaking, I saw hope, pride and love.”