Meet Michael Mentzer the Fond du Lac Reporter's managing editor.

Here are his comments for his column in Sunday's paper on June 25, 2006.

The Memorial Day parade in Fond du Lac ranks among the most significant and meaningful events this community has to offer. It's a time to honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation.

Those who sponsor the parade make it perfectly clear every year that the event is not a time to throw candy from floats, to advertise products or services, or to play politics.

It still angers me 27 days after the fact that people carrying Mark Green signs were allowed to walk in the parade along with a contingent of the Fond du Lac County Republican Party.

I have nothing against Green, a candidate for governor, or the Republican Party, but the Memorial Day parade on Fond du Lac's Main Street was not and is not the proper place to carry political signs.

I would hope that sort of thing would never again be allowed at this community's Memorial Day parade. Do it someplace else.

Now it’s my turn
The Fond du Lac County Republican Party entered the Fond du Lac Memorial Day parade as citizens of this community; we obeyed all the rules set forth by the parade organizers. So why does Mentzer slam the FDL-GOP? Why did he not jump on the parade organizers for allowing us to participate? Why did he not question the rules? Why did he not point out even one rule violation? Why does he feel he needs to try to stifle free speech? The answers are as follows:
1) The rules were not violated and he knows it.
2) He is a die-hard liberal and wants to take shots at our party for his liberal friends.
3) He did not jump on parade organizers because they are Vets and that would not look good in the paper.
4) He, like most liberals, always touts free speech of all kinds unless they don’t agree with the speech.

So ask yourself, who is trying to make political gain here? Who’s using the memory of our fallen soldiers to make a point? Who is the coward who uses his Sunday column to take pot shots at the FDL-GOP without giving us a chance to respond?

Hey, Mr. Mentzer, if you are such a supporter of our troops, where is the support for the troops in your column? Why don’t you use the column for something that will help our troops and the families of the men and women who have given their lives instead of shooting your big mouth off about something so minor?

I know you liberals can’t stand to hear this but here goes: God bless the great people of this country, God bless our troops and God bless America.