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 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The eight points of the cross represent
the eight vows the knights promised to observe.
1. Live in truth.
2. Have faith.
3. Repent of sins.
4. Give proof of humility.
5. Love justice.
6. Be merciful.
7. Be sincere and whole hearted.
8. Endure persecution.
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This is the modern day Maltese Cross as you may be more familiar
with. Although the shape has changed somewhat, it still retains the 8 points. All Firefighters should strive
to maintain the same vows that the knights took so many years ago. This is a tradition we should not forget.
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