The Maltese Cross

The Maltese cross is known around the world as a symbol of the fire
service. It is often seen painted on fire trucks, on the clothing of
firefighters, depicted on firefighters' badges, and is quite often the
chosen design of firefighter tattoos. So where did the Maltese cross come
from, and how did it get to be known as a symbol of the fire service? The
Badge of a Fire Fighter is the Maltese Cross. The 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 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 horrible device of war.
It wrought excruciating pain and agonizing death upon the brave fighters
for the cross. The Saracens 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 Fire Fighters and the first of a long list
of courageous Fire Fighters. Their heroic efforts were recognized by fellow
crusaders who awarded each hero a badge of honor-a cross similar to the one
fire fighters 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 Fire Fighter 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
Fire Fighter's badge of honor, signifying that he works in courage...a
ladder rung away from death.