RAY DAVISON: AN AMERICAN HERO is the story of a legendary Vermont figure, and a hero to many people. The book covers the different periods of his life when he was working as a teacher, worker, business man, public servant, and Deputy Chief for the fire department of the city of Vergennes. It also touches briefly on the history of Vermont, three of its well-known figures, and on the breath and complexity of firefighting in the 21st century. RAY DAVISON: AN AMERICAN HERO is also an appreciation of two friends who very much admired and respected him and a record of his outstanding commitment in helping people, not only in the fire service, but in all walks of life across the United States and throughout the world. Finally, it is an examination and review of all the changes that have taken place in the service from the days of siren technology to the more complex, legally-sensitive, and highly-computerized realities of our times. After the event of September 11, the publication of RAY DAVISON: AN AMERICAN HERO couldn't be more timely. Due to the unparalleled excellence and professional magnitude of his life, his story far outstrips the boundaries of the fire service, the state of Vermont, and America, even, because, in the final analysis, and when looked at closely, it belongs in the public domain and to the world at large.