Naval Academy plebes climb, cap Herndon Monument in Annapolis

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - They did it! The U.S. Naval Academy's annual plebe class climbed and capped the Herndon Monument in Annapolis!

About 1,000 first-year students took part in the annual tradition in which they worked together to "cap" the 21-foot obelisk slathered with vegetable shortening with a midshipman's hat.

The students formed a human pyramid to help their classmates climb the slippery monument and replaced the hat known as the "dixie cup" from the top of the monument with a midshipman's hat, marking the end of their plebe year.

Last year, MIDN 4th class Peter Rossi of Phoenix capped the Herndon Monument at two hours, nine minutes, and 35 seconds.

Plebes began climbing the monument in 1940. The placement of the cap started seven years later. In 1949, upperclassmen began smearing lard on the monument to make the climb more challenging.