St Florian

It’s time again for another installment of history and tradition of the fire service.  So far we have discussed the Maltese cross and the Shamrock.  These two images have great meaning and are widely found in the fire service.  This month’s topic is also well known in the fire service and I would bet that you could walk into almost any firehouse in the country and find someone wearing or carrying the image of St Florian.  St Florian is a Christian saint and is the patron saint of Linz, Austria, chimney sweeps and firefighters.  A patron saint is a saint or angel who is chosen as a special guardian or protector over areas of life.  These areas can range from occupations, illnesses or really anything that is important to us.  Typically patron saints are chosen by the Pope and they are usually chosen because of an interest, talent or event in their lives that overlaps with a special area.  While there are a couple other saints that are associated with fire and fire prevention, St Florian is the most widely known in regards to firefighting.  If you look at a fire catalog or website it is not difficult to find items carrying the image of St Florian available for purchase. 

So why is St Florian the patron saint of firefighters?  Florian was an officer in the Roman army in the 3^rd century.  Florian had converted to Christianity but had kept it a secret until he was ordered to kill a group of Christians during the persecutions of Diocletian.  Florian refused to follow the order and professed his faith.  Once it was known that Florian was a Christian he was ordered to be put to death.  Typically during this time people were put to death by fire.  This did not scare Florian as he challenged the Roman soldiers to light the fire, saying “If you do, I will climb to heaven on the flames.”  So instead of burning him to death, the soldiers beat him, set him on fire, and tied a stone around his neck and threw him in the river.  Because he was not afraid to die by fire, St Florian became the patron saint of firefighters.  St Florian is also known for stopping a fire with a single pitcher of water thus adding to his connection to firefighters.  St Florian is considered a powerful protector in danger from fire, and floods and against drowning.

Whether you are a spiritual or religious individual or not St Florian is deeply rooted in the history of the fire service.  Like a lot people, I tend to be a little bit superstitious.  I wear a St Florian medallion every day.  Do I think it is going to save me from a fire? No, I don’t but I like what it stands for and I like to think there is someone watching over us when we go to work.  Whether it is St Florian, or a lucky penny or some other keepsake someone carries, I don’t really think it matters.  I think it is the meaning or personal connection to that item that really matters.  If it makes you feel safer in a fire, or closer to your family when you are away, then carrying that item is great.  Sometimes it is the little things that make some of the terrible things we see in this job more bearable.   It is for that reason that you see so many firefighters carrying items that bear St Florian’s image.  St Florian is forever rooted in the traditions of the fire service.  May he watch over and protect us all.

The Shamrock

Are you ready for a little more fire service history and tradition?  I have already talked about the Maltese Cross.  There is another symbol that is seen quite often in the fire service--the shamrock.  Did you ever wonder why the shamrock is so prevalent in the fire service?  The present day fire service is home to Emerald Societies, the bagpipers and many big city rosters are full of Irish surnames.  Is it a coincidence or is there more to the story?

In 1845 the Great Potato Famine struck Ireland and led to mass immigration of the Irish into America.  During the famine years, nearly a million Irish arrived in America.  As you may know, the Irish settlers were not exactly welcomed to the US.  Many of the settlers were mocked and faced hard times in America.  During this period there were a limited number of unskilled jobs available and many Americans were worried that the Irish immigrants would be willing to work for lower wages and undercut them for jobs.  This led to an increase in anti-Irish sentiment in cities like New York and Boston.  Many employers posted “No Irish Need Apply” signs to keep these unwanted guests from taking American jobs.  The only jobs these Irish immigrants could get were the dirty and dangerous civil service jobs that no one else wanted.  As a result many Irish immigrants became firefighters and police officers.

As the Irish-American presence in the fire service grew, they began to affix images of the shamrock to their apparatus and uniforms as a way to show their Irish pride.  The shamrock also became a subtle message to their fellow Irishmen that the fire service was a place where they would not be discriminated against.  Through the years, the number of Irish-Americans in the fire service continued to grow and the shamrock became another image synonymous with the fire service.  It is not uncommon to see shamrock decals on helmets, trucks or incorporated into company logos.  As I mentioned last month, the Brooklyn Fire Department’s badge was a shamrock up until the Brooklyn and New York Fire Departments merged.

As the Irish population took hold in the fire service, so did the Irish culture and tradition.  Like the shamrock, the bagpipe was another Irish tradition that took root in the fire service culture.  The bagpipes were often played at Celtic weddings and funerals, so naturally this tradition carried over to the fire service.  The pipes and drums are now a staple of many fire service ceremonies and honor guards.

Another group that emerged with the increase in Irish-Americans in the fire service are Emerald Societies.  Emerald Societies are social organizations created to promote the fraternal spirit of firefighters of Irish ancestry.  Emerald Societies typically work to celebrate the Irish heritage and provide a positive influence in the communities where their members serve.

  The fire service provided an opportunity for many of these immigrants to seek work and make a difference.  The different cultures brought many of their cultural traditions with them and they became staples of fire service tradition.  When you see a shamrock on a helmet or the bagpipers perform at a ceremony, take a minute to reflect on where those traditions came from.  Having some Irish heritage in my family tree myself, it makes me proud to know that my brothers before me opened their doors and offered opportunities to the Irish immigrants that could not find work anywhere else.  Carry these traditions forward with pride, and honor those who came before us.

History and Traditions

This past summer I had the chance to attend a class called “Pride and Ownership” taught by Chief Rick Lasky of Lewisville, Texas.  I am sure many of you have heard of it and if you get the chance, I recommend attending.  It’s a great class centered on building pride and tradition in your department.  The history and tradition of the fire service is one of the greatest assets of this job and Chief Lasky talks a great deal about these aspects of the fire service during this class.

As members of the fire service family it is our responsibility to take what we have learned and pass it on the next generation.  We have the ability to take a look back at all the great and tragic events that have happened over the past years and learn from them.  If we don’t pass the information along, who will?  10 years ago, the FDNY lost nearly 4400 combined years of service when the towers came down.  So much knowledge and information was lost on that day.  This post will be focused on a piece of history and tradition of the fire service.  Many of us wear the Maltese cross on our uniforms every day but do we know the meaning and history behind it?

The Maltese cross is named after the island of Malta which was the home of the Knights of St John.  The Knights of St John wore the Cross of Calvary (later to be known as the Maltese cross) on their armor so they could recognize one another during battle.  How does this tie into the fire service?  During the crusades it was not uncommon for armies to use fire as a weapon.  The Knights of St John were known for risking their own lives to save another knight or extinguish a fire.  They were also known as Hospitallers because they were known for their care of the sick and wounded.  The Knights of St John are considered by most as the first firefighters.  Combining the fact that they took great care of the sick and wounded and with the great pride and honor they took in their work, the Maltese cross became a very fitting symbol for the fire service.  I am sure that many of you have heard this story before.  It is widely known throughout the fire where the Maltese cross originated but let me take it a step further.  Who was the first fire department to use the Maltese cross as their symbol?  The FDNY adopted the Maltese cross in 1865.  In 1882 Brooklyn changed their badges from a four-leaf clover to the Maltese cross.  We will talk about the four-leaf clover and its ties to the fire service in greater detail in a future installment. 

It is important to understand the history and tradition of the fire service.  Think of this quote by Charles Williams “In order to move forward into the future, you need to know where you’ve been.”  He couldn’t have said it any better.  This is our fire service and our fire department and it is up to us move it forward into the future.  In order to do so we need to know where we came from and the history behind why we do the things we do.  When someone asks you why we wear the Maltese cross or why we strike the 4 5’s at a funeral it is not acceptable to reply “because that’s what we have always done.”  I love the history and tradition of the fire service.  They are a couple of the characteristics of this job that makes it so great.  We are the shepherds of this fire department and ultimately we will determine its path in the future, but to truly guide this department forward, we have to embrace our history and tradition and take it with us.   Part of our job as a firefighter is take what we have learned and pass it on to the next guy. 

Stay safe!!