Dennis William Zilinski II

West Point, 2004

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Mark on September 13, 2006:

Dennis, I sit here before this computer imagining I am writing you just another email about how life is back home in Jersey, how the Yankees are beating up on Boston, and asking about what is going on in WestPt, Tenn, or Iraq. I only hope you have email up there because I have tried everything else I can in order to reach you. All the same, I can just imagine your response, countless mispellings and having nothing to do with what I ask you about your life but rather asking me about mine. It was never about you, it was always about others. I feel very angry sometimes for that, that you chose such a life that could take you away from us, but then I realize I am being selfish wishing you had chosen other paths so that I could have you here for my well being. At the end of the day I realize you chose this life because you felt like it was the right thing to do. Not only did you enjoy it, you freakin loved it. You even made me jealous at times that you were so happy with what you were doing and with the people you were meeting. It almost brought me to the point that I should have followed you after high school. Only thing is that I would never have been able to follow you, as I was not as strong a person as you to get through all the stuff you have. Only until after you died, did I realize, though I am not surprised, how you made such an impact in so many others besides myself. I am amazed at what you have accomplished and how, along the way, you have helped so many others accomplish what they were aiming for. Still I feel selfish that I wish you were here to exchange cards under the table during a game of poker with all the guys, beat up on everyone in two on two volleyball, play Halo all night long in the basement, laugh about our days in Ms. Carrols class, snorkel a "few" beers before a game of chandeliers and a night out at bar-a, recount the thousands of memories about swim and cba, share our issues about women, but most of all just get one more chance to open my door and get a brotherly hug. Each day I struggle to relive these memories and tell myself we will enjoy them again. I will never stop spreading the word of your life and telling everyone about how great you were. I only hope that I can make you 1% as proud of me as I was of you. You were the epitome of what I call a friend, you were my best friend, like a brother, and my hero. I love you bro....always. Mark

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