The Firefighter's MALTESE Cross

The INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL OF THE FIRE SERVICE IS THE 8 POINTED MALTESE CROSS

It is a symbol of sacrifice and protection for mankind patterned after the cross of Jesus Christ. It is a badge of courage and honor and it’s story is hundreds of years old. The badge of the Knights was a white cross on a black background. Th Knights received their cross as a symbol of their vow to service. Later the Order became the Knights of Saint John. History tells us that when the Knights went to battle against a group of warriors known as the Saracens, they encountered a new weapon—Glass bombs filled with naptha. It was a perfectly simple, but horrible new device of War. Hundreds of Knights were killed other Knights risked their lives to save their brothers from the fiery death. In 1530 the entire Island of Malta was given to this courageous order of the Knights. The symbol on their flag was the eight point cross. It became the most heralded and honored symbol of all orders of european Knights. It is used today as the ultimate symbol of HEROISM and service. The cross is used by Great Britian to fashion its Order of Merit, and Distinguished Service Order. The Maltese Cross was rightly selected then as the International Symbol of Firefighters World-wide. It is a sacred emblem. Its origin is holy, and it tells the story of mans ultimate service to God and his fellow man…