The Story of the Maltese Cross

The insignia of the fire service is the "Maltese Cross" which comes from the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem also known as the Knights Hospitaller because of their kindness and charity toward the poor and sick by their practice of establishing hospitals and hospices.

This cross represents the fire service ideals of extinguishing fires and saving lives, as well as, the unsefish public service and dedication to the community and the environment. The Order of St. John of Jerusalem from which the maltese cross is borrowed is a non-military, charitable organization that began its existence during the crusades of the 11th and 12th centuries. There were eight aspirations sought by the members of the Order:

Each of these attributes was represented by one of the eight points on the Maltese Cross. During the crusades, the Saracens often used fire and fire bombs against the crusaders. Many knights were called upon to do heroic deeds by extinguishing fires and rescuing their comrades from a fiery death or maiming. As a form of identification the knights adopted the cross of calvary as their symbol because they believed they fought their battles for a holy cause. The cross later evolved into the eight pointed Maltese Cross and represented:

It is also said that each point on the eight point Maltese Cross symbolizes one of the Beatitudes given during the Sermon on the Mount.Today, the badge of firemen everywhere shows the Maltese Cross as a symbol of dedicated, unselfish service to their fellowman and their community.