JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri government officials and residents flocked to the Capitol on Monday for the inauguration of Gov. Eric Greitens, Lt. Gov. Mike Parson, Treasurer Eric Schmitt and a slate of other government officials.
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Callaway County residents helped vote those officials into offices and some were there to welcome them.
"My family and I are going to the ball tonight," Holts Summit Mayor Landon Oxley said Monday. "This is the first time I've ever been invited to an inauguration."
He's planning on taking his wife and grown children to the ball. "They're pretty excited too," he said.
Oxley said he was honored to have the opportunity to represent Holts Summit at the inauguration.
Former county commissioner Doc Kritzer also spent the day at the inauguration, albeit in a slightly different capacity.
"I volunteered to help and ended up getting a parking lot assignment," he said.
"It was a little cold, but that's OK."
Kritzer and about 50 other volunteers were tasked with directing people to open spaces in parking lots and giving walking directions to the Capitol.
"Since I got involved in local government, I've come over to inaugurations," Kritzer said. "I think this is the third one I've been to."
He relished the chance to catch up with friends in the Legislature and just take in the atmosphere.
"I think people are optimistic," Kritzer said. "Greitens brings in a lot of new ideas of things he wants to do. He's very appreciative of anybody who's in service organizations, like military, firefighters and law enforcement - he honored them at a ceremony this morning."
One of Kritzer's favorite moments was during the swearing-in ceremony when a B-2 bomber flew above the crowds packed on the Capitol grounds. He said the thousands of people present looked up in awe.
As of Monday morning, Oxley was still contemplating what he'd say to Greitens if he bumped into him at the ball.
"First, I guess, 'congratulations and it's an honor to be here,'" Oxley said. "Holts Summit will support the governor in any way we can, and I wish him the best in the future, too."
Kritzer waited in line at the Governor's Mansion to meet Greitens and his wife, Sheena.
"I said, 'Thank you very much for your service and for leading us into the future,'" Kritzer recounted. "He seemed very excited."