If
you want to learn why these Navy dudes work so hard to climb up a
lard-coated phallic symbol, read below . . .
The
smell of the melting lard permeates thousands of cheering spectators.
Bodies turn red with beads of sweat dripping down the tower of
people. Agony shows on the faces of those at the bottom of the
pyramid as they support upon their shoulders three or four tiers of
muscular bodies. As the crowd yells in anticipation, the class gets
excited and "They're gonna make it" is heard all around.
Crash. The bodies collapse like dominoes. Their greasy skin, stained
with dirt, lard and sun make it extremely difficult . . .
Lots more at these links . . .
According to the U.S.
Navy . . .
At the sound of a
cannon blast, 1,000 eager, screaming plebes charge toward a 21-foot
grey monument that taunted them all year. They attempt to climb the
lard-covered obelisk as thousands of spectators watch with the hopes
that they complete the task quickly. This event at the U.S. Naval
Academy is known simply as "Herndon" or the "Plebe
Recognition Ceremony."
The plebe class works
together to accomplish the goal of retrieving a white plebe "dixie
cup" hat from atop the monument and replace it with an
upperclassmen's hat. It is a tradition that has endured at the Naval
Academy for many years. More than 200 pounds of lard applied to the
monument by upperclass midshipmen complicate the task.
The Naval Academy
tradition of climbing Herndon never had a specific date documented as
to its origin. The monument climb evidently originated from an
enthusiastic charge of former plebes. After the graduation ceremony,
held on the "Yard" (campus) once upon a time, the
upperclassmen shook hands with the newly appointed "youngsters"
(sophomores). The new third class proceeded to reverse their caps and
coats. Next, youngsters did a snake dance through the "Yard,"
and romped through Lover's Lane, an area restricted to them while
they were plebes. Throughout the celebration, they chanted, "Tain't
no mo' plebes." All the youngsters eventually rallied around the
monument due to its close proximity to Lover's Lane.
In 1967, the
graduation ceremonies moved to Navy-Marine Corps Stadium. This meant
youngsters could no longer run to Herndon after graduation. For this
reason, the ceremony was moved after the first parade of
Commissioning Week and later to the first day of Commissioning Week.
In 1973, then Academy
Superintendent Vice Adm. William P. Mack gave his shoulder boards to
Midshipman Fourth Class Lawrence J. O'Donnell, who climbed to the top
of Herndon in 1 minute 50 seconds, thus beginning the shoulder board
tradition. Today, the Herndon ceremony starts off with a blast at
precisely 2 p.m. as plebes dash toward the monument. At first sight
it looks much taller than it actually is, perhaps due to the hundreds
of pounds of lard slathered on by upperclass. The fatty, white goo is
removed by shoe throwing, hands, shirts and bodies.
The smell of the
melting lard permeates thousands of cheering spectators. Bodies turn
red with beads of sweat dripping down the tower of people. Agony
shows on the faces of those at the bottom of the pyramid as they
support upon their shoulders three or four tiers of muscular bodies.
As the crowd yells in anticipation, the class gets excited and
"They're gonna make it" is heard all around. Crash. The
bodies collapse like dominoes. Their greasy skin, stained with dirt,
lard and sun make it extremely difficult to sustain any balance for a
long period of time.
At the start, their
expectations soar. No plebes doubt that their climb will be the best
of any class to date. After all, it seems each plebe has devised a
plan that would get someone to the top quickly. As they climb, many
bodies are sacrificed. Some become human supports, allowing their
torsos to be pulled like taffy while some are ladders. Their shoes
are off in fear that they might step on and injure a shipmate. In one
hour, many courageous mids try in vain to reach the top.
They finally realize
that this is not the easy task they envisioned in their dreams. They
now realize, more than before, that to overcome their task it takes
teamwork and determination. Within the next half hour, a classmate
may be near the top. One falls, but is quickly replaced by another.
Their hopes are slowly fading away. They wonder if they will be the
first class to fail to get to the top of the monument.
The Class of 1998
gained quite a reputation around the Yard regarding Herndon. Their
time, at the end of their first year in the spring of 1995 of four
hours, five minutes and 17 seconds marks the longest on record,
beating the Class of 1985 which previously held the record with three
hours, 12 minutes and 23 seconds. The fastest times are three minutes
for the Class of 1965 in the spring of 1962 (first recorded time) and
one minute, 30 seconds (the fastest time officially recorded) for the
Class of 1972 completed in the spring of 1969.
Tradition states that
the plebe who reaches the top will rise to the rank of admiral first.
As any observer can recognize, climbing to the top of Herndon takes a
lot of teamwork and perseverance. Ascending Herndon serves as a
review for young midshipmen, reminding them of the values of
teamwork, courage and discipline that are instilled throughout the
year.
The Herndon Monument
climb is the type of tradition that endures and has grown throughout
the years. It is one that will stay for many years to come.
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