Ultimate sacrifice: Vet who was homeless saves five in fire that cost him his own life.

Ray Vivier: A homeless hero who gave his all for
others, is laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetary.

Washington Post

Chaplain Lt. John Logan talks with Elisha Vivier, the daughter of Raymond Edward Vivier

"You can see from what he did that he definitely had a good heart," said Mercedes Cruz, Vivier's ex-wife of 23 years, who attended the funeral with the couple's children. "No matter what our difficulties were in our marriage, I'm very proud of what's happened."


For his grown children — who now are scattered around the country — Vivier had been gone for about 15 years. They know of his heroism now — but they don't know much about the man he was trying to become. They remember their dad's struggles with alcohol and other troubles.

"What I'm trying to get out of this is to have one good, concrete memory that I can have of him for what he did to save those people," said his oldest daughter, Elisha Vivier. "I'm proud of the man that he was becoming."

No man's heart should be judged except by
our maker. Until our last chapter has been
written, and the final paged has been turned.

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