MalteseHistory

The badge of a Firefighter is the "Maltese Cross." This Maltese Cross is a symbol
of protection and a badge of honor. Its story is hundreds of years old.
When a courageous band of crusaders known as the Knights of St. John's, fought
the Saracens for possesion of the holy land, they encountered a new weapon
unkown to European warriors. It was a simple, but a horrible device of war, it
wrought excruciating pain and agonizing death upon the brave fighters for the cross.
The weapon was FIRE!

As the crusaders advanced on the walls of the city, they were struck by glass bombs
containing naphtha. When they became saturated with the highly flammable liquid,
the Saracens hurled a flaming torch into their midst. Hundreds of the Knights were burned
alive, others risked their lives to save their brothers-in-arms from dying painful, fiery deaths.

Thus, these men became our first Firefighters and the first of a long list of courageous Firefighters.
Their heroic efforts were recognized by fellow crusaders who awarded each here a badge of honor-
a cross similar to the one Firefighters were today. Since the Knights of St. John lived for close to
four centuries on a little island in the Mediterranean Sea named Malta, the cross became to be known
as the Maltese Cross. The Maltese Cross is your symbol of protection. It means that the Fireman who
wears this cross is willing to lay down his life for you just as the crusaders sacrificed their lives
for their felllow man so many years ago. The Maltese Cross is a Fireman's badge of honor,
signifying that he works in courage -a- ladder rung away from death