Brian Burridge enthuses a smile and positive energy that spreads the word of kindness and giving to all those lives he touches as a volunteer with Thames Valley Council for Community Action’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

As a Navy veteran, Burridge learned the value of a mission and became a helicopter mechanic working on jet engines as part of a squadron engaged in antisubmarine warcraft. He later pursued a career in aviation maintenance, going to school under the GI Bill and working on B-52 Bombers back in the 1970s.

His training guided him through careers of learning to fly and inspect helicopters, HVAC residential maintenance, joining the National Guard, home inspector auditor and construction.

Burridge’s dedication to helping others using his construction skills and spreading a mission of kindness has led him to helping other veterans in his community.

“I decided to make it a personal mission of veterans helping veterans and giving them a hand,” he said.

Burridge started his mission by helping a Korean War veteran suffering from Alzheimer’s with home construction by putting in a door. That experience opened other doors, and he joined the Veterans Council in New London and last year became a volunteer veteran service representative for East Lyme.

“I am seeing so many veterans falling through the cracks,” he said. “I have been there and done that with home loans, rehab, VA medical, appeals and I can help them with navigating the VA system.”

As an RSVP volunteer, Burridge enjoys his weekly visits with a WWII veteran whom he has helped register for VA benefits and taken grocery shopping and for friendly visits. He finds hearing about the 97-year-old’s adventures and stories of his time in the military to be priceless and a “living history” of stories that need to be told.

“Volunteering is called the joy of giving,” he said. “I receive a joy that gives me purpose when I can make someone’s life a lot more comfortable.”

For more information about RSVP or the Veterans Coffeehouses, call (860) 425-6617.

Gina King is the director of senior services at Thames Valley Council for Community Action.

Kindness in Real Life is a regular feature in the Times. To submit an item, email times@theday.com.