The badge of a firefighter is the Maltese Cross. This cross is a symbol of protection and a badge of honor. It has a story that is hundreds of years old.
When a courgeous band pf crusaders known as the Knights of St. John fought the Saracens for possession of the Holy Land, they encountered a new weapon unknown to European warriors. It brought excruciating pain and agonizing death upon the brave fighters for the cross. The Saracens weapon was fire.
As the crusaders advanced on the wall of the city, they were struck by glass bombs containing naphtha. When they became saturated with the highly flammable liquid, the Saracens hurled flaming torches into their mists. Hundreds of Knights were burned alive; others risked their lives to save their brothers-in-arms from fiery deaths.
Thus; these men became the first "firemen" and the first of a long list of courgeous firefighters. Their heroic efforts were reconized by fellow crusaders, who awarded each with a badge of honor- a cross similar to the one firefighters wear today. These Knights of St. John lived for close to four hundred years on an island in the Mediterranean Sea named Malta, thereby the cross came to be known as the Maltese Cross, the firefighters symbol of protection. The Maltese Cross is a firefighter's badge of honor, strength and courage.
LINKS FIGHTING FIRES STATION & APPARATUS MALTESE CROSS
FIREWORKS LAW THE FIREFIGHTERS FIRE TRAINING
