Annual Herndon Monument Climb 2014

Annapolis Naval Academy freshmen make a human wall to climb the lard covered Herndon Monument on May 19, 2014 in Annapolis, Maryland.

 

Each year the freshman class, known as 'Plebes,' climb the monument at the Naval Academy to retrieve the Plebian Sailor's hat and replace it with an officer's hat.

 

The tradition is one step in marking the end of wearing freshman headgear and moving up to headgear more like a U.S. Naval officer.