Herndon Monument Climb - At the sound of a cannon blast, 1,000 eager, screaming plebes charge toward a 21-foot grey monument that taunted them all year. They attempt to climb the lard-covered obelisk as thousands of spectators watch with the hopes that they complete the task quickly. This event at the U.S. Naval Academy is known simply as "Herndon" or the "Plebe Recognition Ceremony."
The plebe class works together to accomplish the goal of retrieving a white plebe "dixie cup" hat from atop the monument and replace it with an upperclassmen's hat. It is a tradition that has endured at the Naval Academy for many years. More than 200 pounds of lard applied to the monument by upperclass midshipmen complicate the task.
Sadly as of 2010's climb they are no longer allowed to use lard for safety reasons.
4 comments:
Sure would love to take a whiff of that sweaty manscent that must be built up by these hard working dudes!
Hmmm... I wonder what will be included in tomorrow's Friday Male Call?
Love it!
I stood by the sidelines when my class did it. A bunch of my friends were part of the group who first attack the monument by trying to wipe off as much of the lard as you can. And then you start to build the human pryamid around it. I think it took my class over an hour to get the dixie cup off and a real cover on top. But that was over 20 years ago.
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