The annual climb is a tradition for first-year students at the Naval Academy. Together, the plebes scale the monument, typically covered in vegetable shortening, and replace the Dixie cup with an upperclassman’s hat at the top.
Naval Academy Class of 2027 Scales Herndon Monument in 2 Hours, 19 Minutes
![Naval Academy Class of 2027 Scales Herndon Monument in 2 Hours, 19 Minutes](https://www.navycrf.com/test/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240515-AMX-US-NEWS-NAVAL-ACADEMY-CLASS-2027-SCALES-1-UU-sDGvgt-810x400.jpeg)