Maltese Cross Meaning Firefighter
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Maltese cross meaning firefighter. The symbol of the knights of malta what became known as the maltese cross quickly became a widely recognized and admired badge of honor that extends to the current day. One can easily find a hundred web sites that will tell you that the symbol of the fire service comes from the knights of malta and their battles with ottoman pirates or the saracens. Many knights were called to perform. The cross is eight pointed and has the shape of four v shaped arms joined together at their bases so that each arm has two.
It means that the firefighter that wears it is willing to protect and lay down his own life for the safety of his brother just as the crusaders did centuries ago. The history of the maltese cross by mica calfee. There were many of these knights who risked their lives to save their comrades or structures from the fires. This is the story that this symbol of chivalry has to tell and bring to light the correlation between it and the fire service.
The maltese cross is a cross symbol consisting of four v or arrowhead shaped concave quadrilaterals converging at a central vertex at right angles two tips pointing outward symmetrically. This cross is almost universally used as the symbol of firefighters around the world. During the crusades many knights became fire fighters out of necessity. If you take a look at almost any fire apparatus today you re likely to see the maltese cross.
The maltese cross is a badge of honor signifying that he works in courage a ladders rung away from death. The maltese cross is our symbol of protection. It s fitting that the national volunteer fire council and the international association of fire fighters as well as thousands of fire departments across the country have adopted the maltese cross as a symbol that exemplifies the courage and abilities of firefighters. The legend of the maltese cross grew as it became associated with the admirable qualities of loyalty bravery and defender of the weak.
The story is that these knights had a cross on their tunics and that the saracens used fire as a weapon against them. It is a heraldic cross variant which developed from earlier forms of eight pointed crosses in the 16th century. Today firefighters across the country wear the time honored. The maltese cross firefighters.
Symbolism of the firefighter emblem maltese florian cross the firefighter cross is a symbol of honor valor courage and integrity. While it s not really there for aesthetic appeal this emblem has a very rich history and it symbolized an elite group of people that have dedicated their lives to serve their everyone in need. So in this article we re going to do a deep dive into what the cross is what it symbolizes and how it s actually used. The maltese cross is a symbol of protection.
It means that the fire fighter who wears this cross is willing to lay down his life for you just as the crusaders sacrificed their lives for their. The cross was later called the maltese cross and represented the principles of charity loyalty chivalry gallantry generosity to friend and foe protection of the weak and dexterity in service. All of this is true.