Drawing Dallas • 05.28.10

On Memorial Day — and every day — ex-serviceman Madison Vance lets his Pride flag unfurl

Name: Madison Vance

Spotted at: Cityvet on Cedar Springs Road

Up, up and a gay: This former Air Force enlisted servicemember is a New Orleans Creole who works part time for the V.A. while studying law at El Centro. A politically-minded Democrat, Vance has traveled to Frankfort, Paris, Nice, Amsterdam, Brussels and Mexico. He considers traveling "a part of who I am," and after taking his first trip at 14 to Disneyworld, he says, "Mama always knew I would leave home."

What he’s remembering on Memorial Day: Vance’s most memorable moment was when he attended President Obama’s Inauguration in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2009. "You’ll always remember where you were on that historic day, and I was there!" But his favorite president is Martin Van Buren, the eighth president of the United States.

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition May 28, 2010.