• Home
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Safety Alerts
  • Divisions
    • Administration
      • Meet Our Team
      • Chief Stephen Laforet
      • Organization Chart
    • Apparatus / Equipment
      • Apparatus Types
      • Equipment
      • Mechanic Certifications
      • Apparatus Locations
    • Communications
    • Emergency Management
    • Fire & Rescue
      • Fire Stations
      • Medical Response
      • After the Fire
      • Firefighters
        • In the Line of Duty
        • Padre’s Corner
        • Prayers, Creeds & Thoughts
        • Co-op Students
          • Spring 2020
          • Fall 2019
          • Spring 2019
          • Alumni Photo Gallery
    • Fire Prevention
      • Investigation
      • Prevention / Education
    • Training / Recruiting
  • Fire Prevention
    • Fire Prevention Week
      • Sparky’s Weekly Challenge
    • Fire Safety Plan Templates
    • Information Requests & Applications
    • Lock Box Program
    • Smoke Alarm/Carbon Monoxide Alarm Information
    • Important Ontario Fire Code Information
    • Fire Prevention Videos
  • Emergency Management
    • Emergency Preparedness Guide
    • Lake and River Flooding
    • Residential Guide to Flood Prevention and Recovery
  • Public Education
    • Building Owners
    • Carbon Monoxide Information
    • Child/Youth Fire Safety
    • COPE – Care Outreach and Prevention for Everyone
    • Fire Safety & Fall Prevention for Older Adults
    • General Fire Safety Issues
    • High-Rise Fire Safety
    • Home Fire Safety
    • Outdoor Fire Safety
    • Smoke Alarm Information
    • Sprinklers
    • Translated Materials
      • English
      • Arabic
      • Chinese – Simplified
      • Chinese – Traditional
      • French
      • Khmer
      • Korean
      • Portuguese
      • Punjabi
      • Spanish
      • Urdu
    • When Disaster Strikes
  • WFRS History
    • WFRS Apparatus Histories
    • Windsor Fire Stations Histories
    • Firefighting Traditions
    • Historic Windsor Fires
    • Miscellaneous History Articles
  • FAQ
  • Links
  • Contact
    • Windsor Fire & Rescue Services
    • Essex County Fire Services

WindsorFire.com

  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Flickr
  • RSS Feed
  • The Maltese Cross

    • in Firefighting Traditions
    • — 5 Jun, 2017
    • A A A

    The eight point Maltese Cross is the international symbol of the fire service’s willingness to make great sacrifices in order to protect others from the ravages of fire. The Maltese Cross is a symbol of protection and a badge of honour. 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 a horrible device of war; it brought excruciating pain and agonizing death upon the brave fighters for the cross. The Saracen’s weapon was fire.

    As the crusaders advanced on the walls of the city, glass bombs containing naphtha struck them. When they became saturated with the highly flammable liquid, the Saracens hurled a flaming torch into their midst. Hundreds of the knights were burned alive; others risked their lives to save their brothers-in-arms from dying painful, fiery deaths.

    Thus, these men became our first firemen and the first of a long list of courageous firefighters. Their heroic efforts were recognized by fellow crusaders who awarded each with a badge of honour – a cross, similar to the one worn by firefighters today. Since the Knights of St. John lived for close to four centuries on a little island in the Mediterranean Sea named Malta, the cross came to be known as the Maltese Cross.

    The Maltese Cross is the symbol of protection. It means that the firefighter who wears this cross is willing to lay down his life, just as the crusaders sacrificed their lives for their fellow man so many years ago. The Maltese Cross is a firefighters badge of honour signifying that he works in courage – a ladder rung away from death.

    Share

    You may also like...

    • The Great Chicago Fire The Great Chicago Fire 5 Jun, 2017
    • Why are Dalmations Firehouse Dogs? Why are Dalmations Firehouse Dogs? 5 Jun, 2017
    • The Bagpipe At Fire Department Funerals 5 Jun, 2017
    • WFRS History
      • WFRS Apparatus Histories
      • Windsor Fire Stations Histories
      • Firefighting Traditions
      • Historic Windsor Fires
      • Miscellaneous History Articles
    • Home
    • Home
    • WFRS History
    • Firefighting Traditions
    • The Maltese Cross
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Flickr
  • RSS Feed
    • Our Current Programs

      COPE - Caring Outreach Program and Education
      Interested in a career of Firefighting?
    • Latest Tweet

      Tweets by @WindsorFire1
    • Flickr Feed

      4049 - Flood Response Trailer3034- Urban Search & Rescue Truck4048 - Engine 64037 – Fire/Police Command Post4039 – Hazmat 13024 – Fire Special Ops Vehicle for Hazmat4047 - Emergency Supply Unit (ESU)3027 (Fire Investigation Van)4043
    • Home
    • Translated Materials
    • FAQ
    • Links
    • Contact Us
    • Site Map

    City of Windsor | © 2018 WindsorFire.com | Website created by: WebPlanet.ca