Naval Academy Holds Annual Herndon Monument Climb

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND - MAY 23: Fourth Class Midshipman Nick McCowan (C), of Sioux City, Iowa, celebrates alongside Superintendent of the Naval Academy Vice Admiral Sean Buck (R), after placing the upperclassman's hat on top of the Herndon Monument, during the annual event at the U.S. Naval Academy on May 23, 2022 in Annapolis, Maryland. The annual climb is the culmination of the plebe year at the Naval Academy where the class works together to climb the greased monument, remove the plebe "dixie cup" hat and replace it with an upperclassman's hat. McCowan was the plebe who replaced the hats. This year's class accomplished the task in 3 hours, 26 minutes and 58 seconds. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)