From staff reports
Beaufort/Port Royal Firefighter Al Robinson was recently awarded the Order of the Maltese Cross after completing three-and-a-half months of rigorous training at the St. Paul Fire District in Hollywood, S.C. He was selected by his fellow class recruits, which included firefighters from the Beaufort/Port Royal Fire Department and the St. Paul Fire District.
“The Maltese Cross is a firefighter’s badge of honor, signifying that he or she works in courage – a ladder rung away from death,” said Fire Chief Tim Ogden, who congratulated Robinson on this honor. “The eight obligations of the Maltese Cross are: Live in Truth, Repent of Sins, Love Justice, Be Sincere and Whole-hearted, Have Faith, Give Proof of Humility, Be Merciful, and Endure Persecution.”
“We’re very proud of Al, and we look forward to his future as a firefighter,” Ogden said.
The classes covered skills required at the firefighter I and II levels, ranging from the basics of CPR to fire dynamics and suppression, fire hose and ladder skills, forcible entry, and structural search and rescue. Firefighter recruits Madi Chaplin and Adrian Villalon also graduated from the class.
In 2022, Firefighter Jason Kleiner was awarded the Maltese Cross by his class at the South Carolina Fire Academy.
