Naval Academy Plebes Herndon Monument Climb

The Herndon Monument Climb is the traditional culmination of plebe year at the Naval Academy. Demonstrating the teamwork and perseverance they have learned during their first year at the academy, the plebes build a human pyramid to remove the “dixie cup” hat at the top of the vegetable shortening-covered monument and replace it with an upperclassman’s hat. After successfully completing the Herndon climb, the freshmen are no longer called plebes but “fourth-class midshipmen.”

[nancyr.tomasheski]

For more history and personal recollections of The Climb, check out The Herndon Climb by Rear Adm. James McNeal, SC (Ret) and Scott Tomasheski