White House tours aren’t what they used to be, thanks to security concerns, but Michael Dorman of Fuquay-Varina got to see the place up close and personal recently. He earned it.

The founder and head of Military Missions in Action, Dorman gets his volunteers together to renovate houses for disabled veterans all across North Carolina. He’s a 20-year Coast Guard veteran himself and was inspired to do what he does in part from growing up in Lumberton and remembering how his community rebuilt a neighbor’s barn when it burned.

But back to the White House. Dorman was honored with a Presidential Citizens Medal for his work, presented to him by President Barack Obama. He was in good company, including a founder of the Peace Corps.

The medal is one of the nation’s highest civilian honors.

Dorman saw a need, focused on how to get something positive done and called forth the inspiration from his childhood. He is himself an inspiration, and a man all North Carolinians can be proud to call a fellow citizen.