Contributed LUCKY — Steubenville resident Junior Payano crouched in front of Marines who attended the Commander-in-Chief Ball, commemorating the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump.

WASHINGTON — Inclement weather might have forced Monday’s presidential inauguration indoors, but it didn’t prevent several Ohio Valley residents from showing their support for Donald Trump, now the 45th and 47th president.

They recalled the pomp and circumstance of inaugural festivities they attended — with one being able to attend the Commander-in-Chief Ball.

Steubenville resident and Portland native Katelynn Kiefer watched live results arrive from the Nov. 5 general election during a viewing party at 7 Ranges Entertainment. When it became apparent Trump had won, her thoughts turned toward the inauguration, and she asked the crowd: “All right, who’s going?”

Plans took shape during the ensuing months, and before long, Kiefer had assembled a group to attend Trump’s inauguration. The group included two out-of-state friends and three other Steubenville residents: Tom Montagno, Junior Payano and Francis Langley. A direct support professional, Kiefer said Langley’s correspondence with the office of U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli, R-Salem, yielded tickets for the six.

Staying at a short-term rental property in Arlington, Va., the group attended the Young Republican National Federation’s Inaugural Ball After-Party on Jan. 18 as well as the Make America Great Again Victory Rally Jan. 19.

When forecast extreme cold led to the inauguration being moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda, a disappointed Kiefer and company considered skipping the ceremony, but they ultimately elected to attend. The group arrived at the Capitol One Arena at 5:30 a.m. and waited for about four hours before entering to watch the inauguration remotely, alongside roughly 20,000 other Trump supporters.

Missing from the group was Payano, who, at the time, was busy ironing his tuxedo in preparation for the Commander-in-Chief Ball.

A former travel nurse and current full-time landlord, Payano received one of two unused tickets from his friend who works for the Pentagon. Held in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the ball is primarily geared toward military personnel, and admittance is typically only granted by special invitation.

Payano rubbed shoulders with service members and other high-profile individuals and soaked in the atmosphere, characterized by “positive demeanor toward (President Trump.)”

At one point, Payano estimated, Trump stood only about 25 feet away from him during the festivities, including the president’s slow dance with his wife and later with a Space Force sergeant.

The evening didn’t lend itself to much dancing among attendees, Payano said. However, the regular salsa dancer was able to share a few steps with a female service member before leaving for the night.

An undocumented immigrant from Peru prior to his naturalization when he was 21, Payano said he felt inspired by the entire experience, particularly the widespread support for Trump, who became more of a unifying force ahead of his second term.

“I’m definitely grateful and invigorated to do good … (and) be a good person,” he said. “I was surrounded by the servicemen of America, and I was there to support a man — Trump and his team — and I had the privilege to celebrate his victory.”

Payano, Kiefer and the others planned to return after a few tours and the March for Life on Friday. Kiefer hoped to distribute homemade postcards at the march, bearing an image of her baby cousin — who was born at 22 weeks gestation and survived two years beyond expectations — with the words “Every heartbeat has a purpose.”

Kiefer said, “The week has flown by, but it’s been incredible. I’m never going to forget this week.”

Raised in Steubenville but living in Mingo Junction for the past 30 years, Ernie Dellatorre attended the inauguration with his wife, Tracy, and friends John and Lisa and DiCarlo.

The four received tickets through former U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin — a “dear friend” to Ernie Dellatorre, who met the senator through his work as a director with McKinley Architecture and Engineering. When their favorable seats were lost, as the inauguration moved indoors, the four considered passing on the ceremony. Ultimately, Dellatorre said, they were glad they went.

Dellatorre and the others spent five hours in the freezing cold to see the Jan. 19 rally. The next day, they were invited to a local restaurant for a private inaugural watch party. That hospitality speaks for the general atmosphere, which Dellatorre said was “positive with everyone you met.”

Jim Phillips, the mayor of Amsterdam, and Thomas Phillips, an Island Creek Township trustee, also obtained tickets through Rulli. Those tickets “ended up being souvenirs” when event plans shifted, but Jim Phillips still expressed his gratitude.

The two Phillipses, who are not related, serve with the Jefferson County Republican Party — Jim on the executive and central committees, and Thomas on the executive committee and as a leader of the Jefferson County Young Republicans. They attended the inauguration to “represent Jefferson County,” according to the mayor.

Both enjoyed a meal at an Alexandria restaurant, the Warehouse, watched the inaugural parade and waited more than four, frigid hours to watch the inauguration in the Capitol One Arena — Jim Phillips marveled at inaugural committee members’ ability to transition venues so quickly.

“Anytime you can be at a presidential inauguration, for any president, it’s got an electric feeling, and I feel very honored to be able to attend that,” Jim Phillips, said, adding that he didn’t see “one single incidence of violence” among jovial crowds and heavy police presence — volunteer officers hailed from all over and are owed a “big debt” for their work.

Thomas Phillips said that long lines for events represent the general “excitement for Trump.” He noted that first responders from Butler, Pa., played a prominent role in the inaugural parade, even honoring the late firefighter Core Comperatore, who was killed during the July 13 assassination attempt against Trump.

“There were people from every state,” Phillips added. “I met people from Alaska, California — literally every state. It was kind of incredible to see the geographic diversity and genuine diversity. You have old people, young people, Black people, Asian people, white people, men, women, children — just everything. It’s kind of inspiring to see all of us making our way to the capital of our country, sharing that moment.”

Also journeying to Washington was state Del. Jimmy Willis, R-Brooke.

“The inauguration of any president is historic,” Willis said, “but I think no one can disagree that Donald Trump’s second presidential term is nothing short of an incredible feat with everything he went through — between the trials and assassination attempts, being only the second person in our country’s history to win two non-consecutive terms.”

Willis enjoyed the “cold but beautiful” capital city, along with his cousin and cousin-in-law. While in town, Willis toured three different Smithsonian museums and met with U.S. Rep. Riley Moore, R-Harpers Ferry, and his staff for a tour of the Capitol Building.

“We are on a new track as a country,” Willis said. “(The inauguration) was a great time. It was beautifully done on such short notice by the inaugural committee, and I think it was very cool to be there as (Trump) signed six executive orders. I think being part of that history was tremendous.”

Willis added, “That was my first (inauguration), and I look forward to going back in four years for J.D. Vance’s inauguration.”