May 21, 2013

“Plebes no more!” cheers were heard Monday when a U.S. Naval Academy baseball player tossed a Midshipman’s cap on top of a greased Herndon Monument in 1:32:43.

: Plebes used their clothing down to their socks to help wipe the lard away. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: Plebes used their clothing down to their socks to help wipe the lard away during the climbing of the greased Herndon Monument. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: Plebes wipe lard away during the climbing of the greased Herndon Monument. The symbolic event – the final event of the year after the freshmen pass their sea trials – climaxed when Pat Lien of Orlando, FL replaced the plebe’s cap with a Midshipman’s cap in 1:32:43. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: The Naval Academy’s Class of 2016’s Herndon Monument climb near the front of the Naval Academy Chapel. Roughly 1,000 members of the academy’s plebe (freshman) class form a human pyramid around the 21-foot tall Herndon Monument to remove a plebe hat, or “dixie cup,” that upperclassmen have placed on the top of the obelisk. The midshipman who makes it to the top then replaces the “dixie cup” with a midshipman’s hat. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: Spectators watch as the mass of bodies surround the greased obelisk during the climbing of the Herndon Monument at the U.S. Naval Academy. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: The face of one plebe shows determination and discomfort as he’s surrounded with body parts during the climbing of the greased Herndon Monument at the U.S. Naval Academy. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: One plebe gets sprayed with a stream of water, used to help people stay cool during the climbing of the greased Herndon Monument. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: Plebes press together during the climbing of the greased Herndon Monument. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: A symbol of teamwork as plebes interlock their arms during the climbing of the greased Herndon Monument. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: One plebe gets a face full of water spray as he attempts to toss the midshipman’s cap backwards, which fails during the climbing of the greased Herndon Monument. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: Plebes link together in the climbing of the greased Herndon Monument. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: Plebes’ hands reach up to help in the climbing of the monument. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: The T-shirt of Patti Fisher of Highland, MD supports son Tim Fisher during the climbing of the greased Herndon Monument. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: Spectators watch the climbing of the greased Herndon Monument at the U.S. Naval Academy. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: An attempt at shoring up a wall of freshmen collapses during the climbing of the Herndon Monument. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: One freshman grimaces as another steps on him. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: One plebe manages to take a sip of water while being stepped on and sprayed upon. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: Pat Lien of Orlando, FL reaches back the Midshipmen’s cap, during the climbing of the greased Herndon Monument. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: Pat Lien of Orlando, FL tosses the Midshipmen’s cap above, during the climbing of the greased Herndon Monument at the U.S. Naval Academy. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: Pat Lien of Orlando, FL celebrates after tossing the Midshipmen’s cap securely above, during the climbing of the greased Herndon Monument at the U.S. Naval Academy. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: Brad Ecker of Clarence Center, NY (wearing cap) embraces his son Daniel Ecker at the conclusion of the climbing of the Herndon Monument at the U.S. Naval Academy. The event is symbolic and not mandatory; the plebes, who have become midshipmen replaced the plebe’s cap with a Midshipman’s cap in 1:32:43. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

Plebes’ climb of Herndon Monument completes Naval Academy first-year rite of passage
By Andrea F. Siegel, The Baltimore Sun
7:37 p.m. EDT, May 20, 2013

With a flick of his wrist, a U.S. Naval Academy baseball player from Orlando, Fla., tossed an upperclassman’s hat atop the Herndon Monument on Monday, leading his 2016 classmates to launch into cheers of “Plebes no more!” amid roars from onlookers.

“I was considering jumping and making it a little more dramatic,” said Patrick Lien — who is a catcher, not pitcher, on the Navy team, “but I didn’t want to fall and make a scene.”

The Herndon climb was itself a scene: hundreds of plebes, or freshmen, charged a slickened, 21-foot tall granite obelisk at the service academy in Annapolis. Plebes climbed atop each other all around it, groping their way up and slip-sliding down. Many tumbled, and their base of strong classmates collapsed periodically.

Following tradition, the monument, dedicated to the memory of Cmdr. William Lewis Herndon, had been slathered overnight with close to 100 pounds of Crisco, according to members of the Class of 2015 who applied the shortening. Other midshipmen turned hoses on the plebes — ostensibly to cool them from their strenuous effort and the midday heat.

“It was awesome,” shouted a soaked Bridget Lee, of Little Rock, Ark., who had lawn clippings in her hair and stuck to her skin. “I tried climbing twice, I fell both times.”

The goal is to replace the “Dixie cup” hat worn by plebes with an upperclassman’s hat at the very top.

The climb is a time-honored rite of passage for the freshman class. It’s the final hurdle for the class of nearly 1,000 plebes to overcome as a group during their first year. The event marks an end to being called plebes; now, they’re known as fourth-year midshipmen.

The Class of 2016 completed the challenge in one hour, 32 minutes and 43 seconds — far faster than the four-plus hours in 1995 when the Dixie cup was glued and taped on. The record of one minute, 30 seconds, stands from 1972, when the monument was not greased.

Plebes climb greased Herndon Monument

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