The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
The story of The maltese cross. I feel we can't do our job unless we know where we come from.
The badge of a Firefighter is the Maltese Cross. The Maltese Cross is a symbol of protection, a badge of honor, and 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 Lands, they were faced with a new weapon not known to European fighters. It was a simple but horrible device of war. The Saracens weapon was fire.
As the Crusaders advanced on the walls of the city, they were bombarded WITH GLASS BOMBS CONTAINING NAPTHA. When they were saturated with the liquid, the Saracens threw flaming torches into the Crusaders. Hundreds of Knights were burned alive while others risked their lives in an effort to save their kinsmen from painful fiery deaths. Thus, these men became the first Firemen and the first of a long line of firefighters. Their efforts were recognized by fellow Crusaders who awarded each other with a badge of honor similar to the cross firefighters wear today.
Since the Knights of St. John lived for close to four centuries on the Island of Malta, in the Mediterranean Sea, the Cross came to be known as the Maltese Cross. The Maltese Cross is your symbol of protection. It means that the Firefighter that wears the cross is willing to lay down his life for you, just as the Crusaders sacrificed their lives for their fellow man many years ago. The Maltese Cross is a Firefighter’s badge of honor, signifying that he works in courage------a ladder rung away from death.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Robert Ortiz on
-
I just posted this, because some of the guys on my fire dept. love to flash the shirt. Not having a clue why and where it comes from. Some of them don't even bother to care.
-
Permalink Reply by Joe Workman on
-
that is a story that I will never get tired of hearing, I first heard it about a month ago in my FF2 class, although the instructor went on to point out the 8 points of the cross and what each one stands for, I tried to write them down but he talked fast and I didn't get them all, I will ask him again tomorrow what each one means and post it here
-
Permalink Reply by Kevin Nelson on
-
According to Wikipedia, the eight points are:
Loyalty
Piety
Generosity
Bravery
Glory and honour
Contempt of death
Helpfulness towards the poor and the sick
Respect for the church
-
Permalink Reply by Bryce Zitterich on
-
Originally, the eight points represented the 8 Lands of origin of the friar Knights.
-
Permalink Reply by Greenman on
-
Anyone who is interested in the origins of the Firefighter Cross should check out this website. It is well-researched and disputes the story we've all heard about the Knights of Malta fighting the Saracens.
The author makes a case that our familiar "Firefighter Maltese Cross"
could more properly be called the "St. Florian cross" and uses the study of heraldry to make his point.
In the traditional story our emblem is based upon the Maltese Cross, in heraldry known as a "Pattee-Nowee"
But may if fact be based upon the Cross of St. Florian
(which makes sense since he is the Patron Saint of Firefighters and was a firefighter in the Roman Army before converting to Christianity, not to mention to obviously similarity between our modern Firefighter Cross and that of St. Florian). but nobody really knows for sure.
Read the article and you decide.
http://www.riotacts.com/fire/maltesecross.html
Greenman
-
Permalink Reply by John Rulli Jr. on
-
I think the history of the Maltese Cross should be one of the first thing a firefighter learns in fireschool.
-
Permalink Reply by Dustin J. Millis on
-
Read both stories... either way; its some great history!
-
Permalink Reply by Vic Silverfish on
-
Very interesting. I always thought it was the emblem of St. Florian.
FWIW - I've only seen the Maltese cross in the US. It does not seem to have caught on in Europe, Asia or Australia.
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
