“Love you, brother. Be safe.”
“Love you too. I will.”

That was the last conversation I had with Dennis Zilinski. I was in the middle of nowhere on a field training exercise in Texas with just enough cell phone coverage for a 2-minute conversation. He was getting ready to deploy to Iraq.

Dennis was my classmate. My swim teammate. One of my best friends.
He was 22 years old when he was killed in action.

Growing up, Memorial Day was always my favorite. It marked the unofficial start of summer- pool openings, swim season, barbeques, sunshine. What more could a kid want?

But I always remember my dad watching old war movies. That was his quiet way of honoring those who sacrificed.
Back then, those sacrifices weren’t personal.

Now they are.

I still love the beach and the BBQs.
But I love this weekend more because it gives me the space to reflect and remember.

Not a day goes by that I’m not trying to live like Dennis.
But on Memorial Day, I pause.
I remember.
And I’m re-inspired- not just by Dennis, but by every service member who didn’t make it home.

Maybe you watch war movies.
Maybe you attend a local ceremony.
Or maybe you’re still looking for a meaningful tradition.

Two years ago, I recorded an interview with Dennis’s mom- Mama Z.
The response I heard most often was:
“This made Memorial Day feel personal for the first time.”

🎧Listen to the episode– it’s become a tradition to share it every Memorial Day.

You might think it was Dennis’s death that inspired me.
But it’s how he lived that shaped how I think about leadership.

Too often, leaders- like our fallen heroes- feel distant.
CEOs, generals, presidents… people we read about but don’t relate to.

Let me make Dennis relatable.

I won’t say he was average- but at West Point, he probably was.
Not the smartest in the class. Not the fastest on the team.
Not the most “talented” on paper.

But at an institution built to develop leaders- Dennis was a natural.

Not because of his rank. Not because of his resume.
Because of how he lived.

He had work ethic- he showed up early and stayed late.
He had charisma- he encouraged others.
He lived sacrificially- he volunteered constantly.
And he brought joy, grit, and humility into every room- always putting people first.

Leadership, I’ve learned, isn’t about being the smartest or strongest.
It’s about what you’re willing to sacrifice for others.

I remember the knock on his parents’ door.
I remember the funeral.
And I remember what leadership really costs.

I hope you’ll find time to hear from Mama Z- for one of the most powerful conversations I’ve ever had.

It’s personal. It’s honest. And it’s what Memorial Day is really about.

🎙 Listen now: “The Knock at the Door: Honoring Dennis Zilinski’s Legacy of Love with Marion Zilinski”

Make it a great weekend!
BJ


P.S – Dennis’s legacy lives on through the Run with Dennis Foundation– a 100% volunteer nonprofit that supports wounded warriors, funds service dogs for veterans, and honors the families of the fallen.
If you want to do more than remember, that’s a good place to start.