U.S. Naval Academy Plebes Climbing Herndon Monument

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) — It’s the most entertaining day of the year at the U.S. Naval Academy.
It’s Herndon Monument Climb Day — when the academy’s 1,000 or so freshmen, known as the plebe class, attempt to climb the 21-foot tall Herndon Monument and remove the plebe hat or “dixie cup” from the top. The obelisk is covered in vegetable shortening, which makes the already challenging task, more difficult.It’s an annual tradition the academy says, demon