Crusaders known as the Knights of St. John fought the
Saracens for possession of what is modern day Israel. The Knights, also
known as Hospitallers, 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... the Saracen's weapon was fire!
As the Crusaders advanced, they were struck by glass bombs containing naphtha.
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; while others risked their lives to save their brothers-in-arms from
dying painful, fiery deaths.
The Knights heroic efforts were recognized by fellow Crusaders who awarded
them a badge of honor - a four pointed cross representing four arrows meeting
in the center. The Knights continued on for close to four centuries in the
Mediterranean Sea, on an island named Malta, the cross came to be known
as the Maltese Cross and today is synonymous with the fighting of fire around
the world today. The Maltese Cross is a symbol representing the ideals of
saving lives and extinguishing fires. Benchmark protective apparel shares
these ideas and has adopted the Maltese Cross to represent our products
performance.
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