Objective Achieved
At the end of their first year at the U.S. Naval Academy the freshmen, known as plebes (for plebeian), undergo a ritual rite-of-passage that symbolizes their transition from lowly plebes to full-fledged midshipmen. This event is known simply as "Herndon" or the "Plebe Recognition Ceremony." The tradition has endured at the Naval Academy for many years.
The challenge: to scale the 21-foot tall gray granite obelisk, remove the "dixie cup" plebe hat on top and replace it with a midshipman's cover. To make it more difficult the tower is greased; this year with 36 pounds of butter, two gallons of canola oil and several tubs of vegetable shortening.
At the sound of a cannon blast, more than 1,000 eager, screaming plebes charge toward the Herndon monument. As they attempt to climb the lard-covered monument and sweaty bodies mix with the slippery slime, early optimism succumbs to gritty determination. Agony shows on the faces of those at the bottom of the pyramid as they support upon their shoulders three or four tiers of bodies above them. Those at the top strain to climb as high as possible in order to switch out the hats before losing their balance and falling into the mass of classmates below. Only by using discipline, teamwork and courage can they achieve success.
The fastest time for climbing a greased monument was 20 minutes in 1972. The longest time was 4 hours and 5 minutes in 1995.
Objective Achieved
At the end of their first year at the U.S. Naval Academy the freshmen, known as plebes (for plebeian), undergo a ritual rite-of-passage that symbolizes their transition from lowly plebes to full-fledged midshipmen. This event is known simply as "Herndon" or the "Plebe Recognition Ceremony." The tradition has endured at the Naval Academy for many years.
The challenge: to scale the 21-foot tall gray granite obelisk, remove the "dixie cup" plebe hat on top and replace it with a midshipman's cover. To make it more difficult the tower is greased; this year with 36 pounds of butter, two gallons of canola oil and several tubs of vegetable shortening.
At the sound of a cannon blast, more than 1,000 eager, screaming plebes charge toward the Herndon monument. As they attempt to climb the lard-covered monument and sweaty bodies mix with the slippery slime, early optimism succumbs to gritty determination. Agony shows on the faces of those at the bottom of the pyramid as they support upon their shoulders three or four tiers of bodies above them. Those at the top strain to climb as high as possible in order to switch out the hats before losing their balance and falling into the mass of classmates below. Only by using discipline, teamwork and courage can they achieve success.
The fastest time for climbing a greased monument was 20 minutes in 1972. The longest time was 4 hours and 5 minutes in 1995.