Have the presidential debates done more harm than good? What happened to the honor and respect that the office of the president once held? If we diagrammed the line of respect for presidents from George Washington to today, it would go up and down like the musical score of the "Hungarian Rhapsody."

The fire service has fought long and hard to be recognized by the government and to receive precious federal dollars. Well, the grants finally came, and this year firefighters were featured prominently in mass-media coverage of the presidential campaigns. Have firefighters become pawns in personal political agendas? Time will tell after the inauguration in January.

Within the past several weeks, I've visited with officers and firefighters in Idaho Falls and Pocatello, Idaho; Columbus, Ohio; and Chapel Hill, N.C. These are the people who make the fire service what it is today and what it will be in the coming years. And they can't be bullied; they will speak their minds on Nov. 2, just like every other American.

After all the debates and political rhetoric, the fire service will need to come together again and live with the results of the people's choice for president. If all the mud that's been thrown leaves a bad taste in your mouth, considerdoing something positive for those honorably serving this country abroad in Iraq. They serve so that others can have the same rights we have, and perhaps no other group has felt the brunt of this election season tug-of-war as they have.

In response to a previous Command Post editorial about firefighters and soldiers, Roger Melchior, program director for St. Petersburg College in St. Petersburg, Fla., wrote that the college newspaper is going to solicit names of family members who are serving in Iraq from their college family and plans to send them packages for Christmas.

What about firefighters from departments across the country who are serving in Iraq? Why not send holiday greeting cards to those doing double duty for their country -- as homeland defenders and on the war's front lines?

If you know a firefighter serving in Iraq who would enjoy receiving holiday greetings from other firefighters, please send me his or her name and address at the e-mail below. We'll post these to the Web site before the holidays and encourage Fire Chief readers to send them greeting cards or fire department patches.

Let's reach out to firefighters in the military and National Guard serving in Iraq. For the cost of a card and a 37-cent stamp, the good feeling might be just the cure for the emotional hangover after election day.

Janet Wilmoth, Editor