The Maltese Cross
A Badge of Honor and Courage

Fire Fighters are identified by and are very proud of the badge that identifies them with their department.   The majority of fire fighter's badges are in the shape of the Maltese Cross.   Why the Maltese Cross?   The Maltese Cross is a symbol of protection and a badge of honor with a story that is hundreds of years old.

 A courageous band of Crusaders from Malta, known as the knights of St. John, fought the Saracens for possession of the Holy Land.   The need for an identifiable emblem for knights had become crucial.   Because of the extensive armor which covered their entire bodies and faces, the knights were unable to distinguish friend from foe in battle.   They chose the cross of Calvary as their symbol, since they fought their battles as a holy cause.   The cross was later called the "Maltese Cross" and represented the principles of charity, loyalty, chivalry, gallantry, generosity to friend and foe, protection of the weak, and dexterity in service.   The Knights encountered a new weapon unknown to European warriors.   It was a simple but 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 over the walls of the city they were struck by glass bombs containing naphtha.   When they became saturated with the highly flammable liquid, the Saracen's hurled a flaming tree into their midst.   Hundreds of Knights were burned alive.   Others were called upon to perform heroic deeds by rescuing fellow knights and extinguishing fires.   In acknowledgement of these feats, the cross worn by these knights was decorated and inscribed.   This was considered a most honorable acclaim.   Thus these men became our first fire fighters and the first of a long list of courageous fire fighters.

The Maltese Cross is your symbol of protection.   It means that the fire fighter who wears this cross is willing to lay down his/her life for you, just as crusaders sacrificed their lives for their fellow man so many years ago.   The Maltese Cross is a fire fighter's badge of honor, signifying that he or she works in courage....a ladder-rung away from death.