The History of the Maltese Cross

The symbol of a fire department and the badge of a fireman is, the
Maltese Cross.  The Maltese Cross is a symbol of protection and is
worn as 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