Naval Academy plebes complete Herndon Monument Climb

The Naval Academy plebes completed the Herndon Monument climb Monday. The class of 2020 finished the climb in 21 minutes and 21 seconds. Joe McGraw from Rockford, Illinoise placed the upperclassman's hat at the top.

[@jamesrobinson2175]

Good video

[@joestack6040]

first

[@joestack6040]

lol

[@jamesunderwood3451]

Great tradition!!!

[@breadwineandsong4014]

For many years, the Herndon Monument was greased with a several inch layer of lard. As a result, the average time for the climb took several hours. Our class, class of '86, for instance, took 3 h 45 m, and that was considered a good time. The class of '87 took around five hours as I recall it. A few years back, the grease was no longer put on the monument for safety concerns (as if falling off a height of 20 + feet isn't a risk, or as if no other administration ever considered that grease would add an additional risk) and what was once a true struggle--meant to represent the difficult challenges each midshiman will face in the naval services) is now a token event that means very little when it is climbed in less time than it takes to eat lunch. Maybe we should can the event entirely because someone might fall down and get a boo-boo.