Navy school freshmen attempt annual greased climb
STORY: Location: Annapolis, Maryland
This is the Navy’s annual Herndon Monument Climb
Freshmen form a human pyramid around the 21-foot granite obelisk
which is greased with a thick layer of vegetable shortening
They work together to replace the underclassman’s hat atop the monument
with an upperclassman’s hat
After successfully completing the climb
the freshmen are no longer called “plebes”
but “fourth class midshipmen”