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Fire Department

FDNY Shirts

by Will Baum

FDNY shirts are a simple way to pay tribute to the men and women of the New York City Fire Department. It may be with some shame that we recall the years before the 9/11 disaster, when firefighters were sometimes taken for granted. These days, people are making up for that time. FDNY shirts and hats have become a popular way to acknowledge the sacrifices firefighters made that day and make every day.

FDNY Shirts and the Maltese Cross

You may find some FDNY shirts that bear the distinctive Maltese Cross, the emblem of the New York City Fire Department. The Maltese Cross has its origins back in the crusades. Crusaders called the Knights of St. John are the inspiration for the cross. Hailing from a small Mediterranean island named Malta, the Knights of St. John are thought of as history's first firefighters.

Battling the Saracens, the Knights encountered a new, brutal weapon: fire. The Saracens waited as the Knights approached their city walls, then doused the Knights with a flammable liquid called naphtha. Then they added flames. Knights were burned alive by the hundreds. Others risked everything to try and save their comrades. These Knights who came to the rescue of their fellow soldiers are considered the first firefighters.

The Maltese Cross symbolizes the selflessness that firefighters bring to their job. Firefighters ignore instinct and face grave danger in order to save lives. That's their job. The FDNY have proved their dedication to the code of the job time and time again.

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