Coming very soon to the chimney (or front door) of your station will be gifts of cookies, baked goods and other tasty treats from appreciative neighbors and your community. Tis the season of kindness and sharing symbolized by an ageless Santa.

During this holiday season -- as with seasons past -- it always seems that bad things are held in abeyance. Newspapers are thinner and filled with many charitable stories. TV stations report heart-tugging stories and Santa sightings. People tend to stay close to home or travel early enough so they really can feel a quieting-down on Christmas night. We all hope for a silent night in fire stations, too.

Last week I was e-mailed a picture of a real Santa Claus and it prompted me to write my Christmas wish list to Santa:

We'd like Santa to bring the Congressional Fire Services Institute -- Executive Director Bill Webb, Advisor Steve Austin and particularly Sean Carroll -- a sold-out CFSI dinner next May 5 for all their hard work on the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act, the USFA Reauthorization Act and the FIRE Grant Program. Working together with a tireless Alan Caldwell, the IAFC's Director of Government Relations and chair of CFSI's National Advisory Committee, this organization deserves a show of appreciation and support at their annual fund-raising dinner.

We want Santa to triple the membership of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, as every fire chief recognizes the critical role this organization plays in the emergency services today. The IAFC provides strong national political leadership for our nation's chiefs. It has worked aggressively to build the FIRE Grant Program and to bring solutions to the communication challenges facing today's fire service. IAFC's success lies in its effective reinvestment of profits from Fire-Rescue International Conference & Exhibition and other events to educate and improve national and international fire and emergency services.

We want Santa to bring a big, shiny, gold star to U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison for his assertiveness in bringing the Hometown Heroes bill to the attention of many fire service organizations -- CFSI, IAFC, the International Association of Fire Fighters and the National Volunteer Fire Council--and for encouraging their efforts on the bill.

Santa also might consider a few lumps of coal to certain White House staff for being in such a hurry to get the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act signed that they neglected to invite the CFSI, IAFC, NVFC and other key fire personnel to the signing of that historic bill last week. We're truly grateful the act was passed and signed, but it's not often that the presidential spotlight shines on the fire service. We'd like to remind the administration, whose educational agenda leaves no child behind, to also please not leave any fire departments behind in their homeland security efforts.

Thinking out of the bag, Santa might want to consider a National Fire Museum for America's fire service. Perhaps one similar to the London Fire Brigade's museum or the Tokyo Fire Museum that combines citizens' education and centuries of history. It's tough enough trying to get money for U.S. fire departments, let alone a national fire museum, but because we believe in Santa Claus, there's no harm in asking.

The staff of FIRE CHIEF magazine wishes you a peaceful and joyful holiday season and a healthy, happy and safe New Year.

Janet Wilmoth, Editor