THE STORY OF THE MALTESE CROSS
When a courageous
band of crusaders, the Knights of St. John, fought the Saracens for
possession of the Holy Lands, they were faced with a new device of
war—fire.
As the crusaders
advanced on Jerusalem, the Saracens pelted them with glass bombs full
of naphtha and then threw down flaming torches. Hundreds of knights
were burned alive while others risked their lives to save their
kinsmen from painful fiery deaths. Thus these became the first
firefighters. Their heroic efforts were recognized by fellow
crusaders who awarded them with a badge of honor similar to the cross
firefighters wear today. Since the Knights of St. John lived nearly
four centuries on the island of Malta, in the Mediterranean Sea, the
cross came to be known as the Maltese Cross. The firefighter who
wears this cross is willing to lay down his life for others, just as
the crusaders sacrificed their lives for their fellow man so many
years ago.
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