Now, that is more like it.

The picture above, found at timesunion.com and other news sites, is of Bob Welch from Manchester, New Hampshire performing with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Pipes and Drums as part of the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah, Georgia. It is an AP photo by Stephen Morton, as is the one below from CTV's website, showing another warm reception for a New York firefighter marching in the same parade.

After the last couple of years of budget problems, pay cuts, layoffs, and more recently, attacks on the collective bargaining rights and pensions of firefighters, aren't these welcomed images?

You can't help but be reminded of the admiration and appreciation shown to firefighters after September 11th. These pictures are a lot different than what is going on right now in some communities with firefighters treated like outcasts and thieves who have to jusify the vital work they do. So, why and how did it get this bad?

In many cases it was inevitable based on the economy and political environment. But too many other wounds have been self inflicted. Sometimes out of selfishness, with firefighters forgetting what's important and thinking it's about themselves and not this special job they do. More often, it's from simply not realizing your image in the community does matter and you should be working at it each and every day. Doing so can build reputation equity that you'll need when the times are tough.

Too often the mistake is made of reaching out to the public only as a desperation move when the bloodletting by the politicians is well underway. It is much easier to get friends who know you well to stand by your side or be willing to go to battle on your behalf. You should be working on that now to be in better shape for the next crisis.

To me, these pictures show how it can be for firefighters. I don't know about you, but if I were a firefighter I would rather be getting warm kisses from the public, even metaphorically, than the rough handling some citizens and political leaders are giving our nation's heroes.