 |
History of the Maltese Cross
The badge of a fireman 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, fought the
Saracens for possession of the holy land, they encountered a new weapon unknown
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
Saracen's 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 firemen 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 firemen wear
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 came 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 fellow 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.
-anonymous