| 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. |