A symbol of honor

Have you ever wondered why fire departments wear an emblem used during the Christian Crusades in the Holy Land hundreds of years ago to represent the fire service ideals of saving lives and extinguishing fires?

The Maltese Cross

The fire service borrows the Cross Pattee-Nowy, commonly known as the Maltese Cross, from the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, who wore the emblem during the 11th and 12th centuries.

The Knights were a charitable organization that helped set up hospitals for the sick and poor. They also helped fight against the Saracens during the Holy Wars, also known as the Crusades. During their battles, they encountered a new weapon previously unknown to European warriors. It was a simple, but horrible device of war that wrought excruciating pain and agonizing death upon the Knights. The Saracens' weapon was fire.

Hundreds of Knights were burned alive during the many years of Holy Wars; others risked their lives to save their companions from dying painful deaths. These rescuers were among the worldÕs first firefighters. Their heroic efforts were recognized by fellow Crusaders who awarded each one with a badge of honor Ñ a cross similar to the one firefighters wear today.

The cross came to represent the principles of charity, loyalty, chivalry, gallantry, generosity to friend and foe, protection of the weak and dexterity in service.

For nearly four centuries the Knights lived on the little island in the Mediterranean Sea named Malta. The cross they wore as an emblem thus became known as the Maltese Cross.

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