Firemans Maltese Cross

The badge of a fireman is the the Maltese Cross.

The Maltese Cross is known around the world as a symbol of the fire service. It is often seen painted on fire trucks, on the clothing of firefighters, depicted on firefighters badges, and is quite often the chosen design of firefighter tattoos.

It's story and tradition is hundreds of years old.

This emblem had its beginning during the Crusades and was the symbol of the knights of that period.

The knights were designing a shield that wouldn't be too cumbersome while riding horses into battle. The cross design was adopted and put into use by the early Knights of Malta

The Maltese Cross is named after the island of Malta, which came to be the home of the Knights of St. John. The Knights of St. John existed during the 11th and 12th centuries

During the Crusades, the Knights of St. John, fought the Saracens for possession of the Holy Lands, they were faced with a new device of war --- fire.

The Knights of Malta became a charitable, non-military organization during the 11th and 12th centuries, providing aid to the sick and poor and helping to set up numerous hospitals. They would later take up arms and join with the Knights of the Crusades in an effort to win back the Holy Land.

This new breed of knight was known as a flamboyant lot. They dressed in regal fashion to show their colors in a uniform manner. Large crimson-colored capes were worn over the suits of armor. Not only were the capes symbolic, but they also helped provide a defense against one of the newest weapons of war--fire. As invading forces attacked a castle, the defenders would throw containers of naphtha and other flammable liquids. Once the armies were soaked, a torch would be hurled at the attackers, igniting their fuel-soaked clothing.

With their fellow troops engulfed in fire, the Knights of Malta would approach on horseback, rip off their capes, and use them to extinguish the flames on their burning fellow fighters.

As a reward for their bravery, the cross worn by those Knights was decorated and inscribed by their admirers. It came to be known as the most honorable badge of acclaim that could adorn a uniform.

The legend of the Maltese cross grew as it became associated with the admirable qualities of loyalty, bravery and defender of the weak.

The Maltese cross is the very familiar red center circle with four shapes emanating from the center. The eight 'points' on the Maltese Cross symbolize the following as illustrated

The Maltese Cross represents charity, loyalty, gallantry, generosity to friend and foe, dexterity of service, and protection of the weak. The Maltese Cross is a symbol of protection. It means that the firefighter who wears this cross is willing to lay down his or her life .... 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 or she works in courage, pride and honor - a ladder rung away from death

The trumpets represent leadership and are from the days when fire officers would use the speaking trumpet to direct personnel.

The helmet represents safety.

The ladder represents the specialized tools of the firefighting trade.

The "scramble" symbolizes total readiness.

The color red behind the scramble symbolizes our enemy - fire - and represents the courage of men and women who battle one of the deadliest perils of mankind