Annapolis, Maryland. (May 19, 2024): It is a greasy tradition, a slippery custom enthusiastically endured by every class of freshman, or plebes, at the U.S. Naval Academy. In this photo by Stacy Godfrey, U.S. Naval Academy freshmen climb the Herndon Monument, a tradition symbolizing the successful completion of the midshipmen’s freshman year. The class of 2027 completed the climb in 2 hours, 19 minutes and 11 seconds.

The Herndon Monument is dedicated to the memory of Captain William Lewis Herndon who died during the sinking of his ship the SS Central America in 1857. Captain Herndon is credited with saving 152 women and children during a three-day hurricane off the coast of North Carolina. He safely transported them to another vessel while remaining aboard his ship along with four hundred passengers and crew who drowned as the vessel sank off Cape Hatteras. It was the largest loss of life in a commercial ship disaster in U.S. history.

Today, the Herndon Monument is the site of the unofficial “plebes-no-more” ceremony during which first year students work together to scale the monument to place a “plebe dixie-cup” on top. The 21-foot-tall grey granite obelisk is normally greased by upperclassmen with as much as fifty pounds of vegetable shortening. Plebes compete with previous classes to see who can climb the monument the fastest. Since this oily tradition began, the fastest to scale the monument is Midshipman 4th Class Michael J. Maynard of the Class of 1975 who scaled the monument in 20 minutes in 1972.

Legend has it that the plebe who replaces the dixie-cup hat will be the first to make Flag Rank (or General Officer). This year’s climb reinforces teamwork, organization and leadership and marks the official end of the plebe year.