Will You Answer the Call?
The Story of the Maltese Cross
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 Land, 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 naphtha. 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 heroic 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 our symbol of protection. It means that the
Firefighter that 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 Firefighter’s badge of honor, signifying that he works in
courage - a ladder rung away from death.
-Author Unknown
Firefighting is rich in tradition and history. From the bucket brigades in Colonial America ,to the modern departments now in operation, unnamed firefighters have answered the call to aid their friends, neighbors, and communities in time of need. Though the equipment and technology has changed it still takes the same thing to get the job done that it took in Ben Franklins fire brigade. It takes a selfless desire to keep your community safe, many hours of training, and above all uncompromising courage. The fire service as a whole has progressed with leaps and bounds over the past 100 years. From horse drawn steam engines with leather wrapped hoses to the modern fire engines with state-of-the-art equipment, one thing has remained the same; it takes a dedicated team of courageous people to use the equipment, run the pumps, and to go into the heart of the fire and put it out. Always willing to lay it all on the line to save a life, most of the time for a complete stranger, firefighters are a special breed. Being a firefighter is not an easy service. There are late nights, sometimes with little or no sleep. There are missed dinners, cancelled plans and hours spent in training. Those of us who now serve each have our own reason and motivation for doing what we do, but we are all dedicated to the same set of ideals that has driven firefighters form the beginning. Being a firefighter is not just a title, it is not just a hobby or some thing you do, it is who you are 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It is answering the call.