It was the fulfillment of a promise made.

Matthew “Bud” Burkett is a World War II veteran and the 90-year-old grandfather of Kristy Gwyn.

On Wednesday, Gwyn, who teaches orchestra at Northside Middle School in West Columbia, took the trip of a lifetime.

The two left Columbia Metropolitan Airport to see the memorial to World War II (WWII) veterans, and many other national sites, in Washington DC.

It was the last Honor Flight of 21, to take WWII and Korean War veterans the nation’s capitol.

“Everything was great. I had never seen it before,” Burkett said upon his return home. “Everyone was so nice. I really enjoyed it.”

He also said the large crowd assembled at the airport to welcome veterans on their return was “unbelievable.”

In addition to service in WWII, Burkett served in the Korean War. As a member of the 4th Armored Division in WWII, Burkett was stationed in Nuremberg, Germany where the NAZI War Trials took place.

“He served 20 years, 10 months and 23 days in the Army,” said Gwyn with a laugh. “He knows exactly how long he was in.”

After serving in WWII and Korea, Burkett’s wife Sara, urged him to retire from the military.

“It was the time of Vietnam, and she did not want me to be called up again,” Burkett said. He left the Army in 1967. He and his wife had almost 50 more years together. In all, they were married 69 years.

Sara passed away April 6, 2016.

“I was very close my grandmother,” Gwyn said. “Once she became ill she made me promise I would make sure Papa went on the Honor Flight – no matter what.”

After Sara died, Gwyn said she was going to fulfill her promise. She was determined for her grandfather go on the Honor Flight, and she kept encouraging him. That was a good thing.

“He’s so glad he got to go,” she said. “It was such a good trip for him.”