On Tuesday, dozens of former and current Missouri lawmakers traveled from around the state to honor former governor and Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond.

Bond died last week at 86 years old. He was originally from Mexico, Missouri, where his maternal grandfather, A.P. Green, was a well-known businessman.

He was sworn in as Missouri governor in 1973 and again in 1981, then won a U.S. Senate seat in 1986. He would stay in that seat until his retirement following the 2010 election.

"A hundred years ago, we were famous for sending 400,000 mules into World War I and II," said John D. Ashcroft, who had also served as governor, senator and attorney general of the United States. "Now we're famous for defending freedom around the world with missiles. He presided over that kind of transition for the state of Missouri, taking it from something distant past and to be a leader in the future."

Ashcroft was one of a handful of current and former public officials who took part in the memorial service. Some notable attendees included former Sen. Jack Danforth, Gov. Mike Kehoe, first lady Claudia Kehoe, Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission member Warren Erdman (who previously served as Bond’s chief of staff), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City), Missouri Capitol Police Chief Zim Schwartze and former Sen. Roy Blunt (who took over Bond’s senate seat following Bond’s retirement).

Cleaver described Bond, a Republican, as a friend during the memorial service. He touched on how the two were on opposites sides of the political aisle, but respected each other.

"Kit Bond's shadow strikes all over the state of Missouri," Cleaver said. "We did work together on project after project after project, and I will be delighted for the rest of my life that I had that opportunity with Kit Bond."

Lawmakers were not the only ones who attended the ceremony early Tuesday afternoon. Many residents and friends of Bond from his hometown of Mexico, Missouri, recalled fond memories.

“He’d always come to all of the things [in town] whether it would be something to do with the hospital in the community," Mexico resident Joseph Corrado said. "He was always there and he was very down to earth.”

Corrado recalled how Bond would often visit his Chinese restaurant and touched on his love for Chestnut trees.

"He grew chestnuts from the University of Missouri on his land in Mexico, and he didn’t know what to do with them," Corrado said. "So what we did was we made a special gold menu and it was the Kit Bond Menu.”

Local historian and former President of the State Historical Society Bob Priddy said Bond accomplished a lot during his decades of years of service for Missourians.

"You can list the things he accomplished, that’s part of his legacy." Priddy said. "But what you saw was a tribute to kit bond as a person.”

Flowers surrounding Bond's casket as well as the entrance to the Rotunda where guests signed their names. Former Mizzou football coach Gary Pinkel and his family sent yellow roses and their condolences saying, "To the Great and Honorable Christopher Kit Bond. For his outstanding leadership and love for the citizens of Missouri. For his friendship to our family, and his energy, smile and charisma will live in on in memories."

Bond's body will stay in the Capitol for 24 hours. All are welcome to pay their respects.