Chris Smith: Montgomery High School grad and Marine Corps major ready for inauguration

Also bound for the presidential inauguration Friday is a former Santa Rosa lad and Montgomery High alum who will occupy a reserved spot close up to the swearing-in, will dress in splendid, formal attire that he earned by placing himself in lethal peril and will keep his opinions of the moment to himself.

Lucas Hernandez, Monty Class of ’95, is a U.S. Marine Corps major preparing for his leadership role as one of more than 5,000 members of the armed forces taking part in Friday’s 58th inaugural festivities.

“It’s been fun,” the 39-year-old veteran of four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan said by phone from D.C. “It’s been busy.”

His day job is working at the Pentagon as a program analyst seeking the best uses of Marine Corps resources and capabilities. The ex-Vikings football player and 19-year Marine said he’s “excited and honored” to be a part of a joint inaugural task force made up of representatives of the Marines, Navy, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard, and including the Reserves and National Guard.

They won’t be there to provide security but to perform ceremonial and escort duties as the presidency passes from Barack Obama to Donald Trump and, then, as a parade follows the new president and vice president from the Capitol to the White House.

Hernandez’s post during the swearing-in on the Capitol’s west front will be close to the inauguration platform. “I’ll have a pretty darned good view of the ceremony,” he said.

The major, who on occasion visits family in Santa Rosa, won’t be sharing any personal or political views of Friday’s transfer of authority to a new commander in chief. He did signal he’s less than thrilled by the forecasts that Inauguration Day in D.C. will be rainy.

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WORLD WAR II VET Fred Bollinger, who drew his first breath in 1916 in Sebastopol, was treated to a free breakfast and an award Wednesday by the town’s morning Rotary Club.

Fred astounded the Rotarians with how fit and quick he is at 100. After the breakfast meeting, Fred recalled the fun of riding the Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railroad trolley from near his home to near Analy High in the early 1930s.

He said he’s hoping to live long enough to ride the SMART train. He’s not alone in that ambition.

“I think I’ll make it,” Fred said.

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GETTING OLD, Marjorie Running reports at 82, is not always the euphoric frolic that young folks might perceive it to be.

Happy to be up and around after a long illness, Marjorie discovered days ago outside the Raley’s supermarket in Santa Rosa that her keys were where they were supposed to be, in her purse, but her purse was in the car and all the doors were locked.

She was terribly upset - until a stranger introduced herself as Emily and offered her cellphone. When Marjorie couldn’t reach a neighbor who might have gone into her house to retrieve another set of keys, the woman drove her home to get them, then drove her back to her car at Raley’s.

Would the kind stranger accept a few dollars for her time, fuel and trouble? No.

Thankful, Marjorie hopes that forever when a senior needs an Emily, one will appear.

Chris Smith is at 707-521-5211 and chris.smith@pressdemocrat.com.