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Origin of the Maltese
Cross
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The Maltese
Cross is a symbol of protection-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 horrible device of war; it wrought
excruciating
pain and agonizing death upon the brave
fighters of
the Cross.
The
Saracens' weapon was fire!
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As the
Crusaders advanced on the walls of the city, they
were
attacked by glass bombs containing naphtha. When
they became
saturated with the highly flammable liquid, the
Saracens
hurled a flaming tree into their midst. Hundreds
of Knights
were burned alive. Others risked their lives
to save
their brothers in arms from dying painful deaths.
Thus, these
men became the first fire fighters...and the
first of a
long list of courageous Fire Fighters. Their heroic
efforts were
recognized by fellow Crusaders who awarded
each hero
with a badge of honor-a cross similar to the one
Fire
Fighters wear today.
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Since the
Knights of St. John lived for nearly four centuries
on a little
island in the Mediterranean Sea, named Malta,
the Cross
became known as the Maltese Cross.
The Maltese
Cross is a symbol of protection. It means that
the fire
fighter that wears this Cross is willing to lay down
his life,
just as the Crusaders sacrificed their lives for
their fellow
men so many years ago.
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The Maltese
Cross is a Fire Fighter's Badge of Courage...
a
ladder-rung away from death.
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