It started and ended with the shot of a cannon.
After all the grease was wiped away, the class of 2026 at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, were plebes no more鈥攏ow midshipmen and women.
It was 21 feet to glory for the annual Herndon Climb, where first-year students are tasked with scaling a greased monument 鈥� erected in honor of Cmdr. William “Bill” Herndon 鈥� to knock off the “dixie cup” on top, and plant the hat of an upperclassman on top of the marker in its place.
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It took a little over two and half hours on a brisk Wednesday morning, with older midshipmen dousing plebes with water the whole time, for the first-year academy students to finish the task. But considering the record for slowest time currently stands at more than four hours, the newly promoted students were understandably jubilant.
鈥淚 am so proud of all of these kids,鈥� said Cheryl Bakkn, who flew in from San Diego to watch her daughter Jessica of 25th Company complete her first grueling year in triumphant fashion.
鈥淲e got here about 04:00 hours with around 150 pounds of lard,鈥� said Midshipman Gabriel Neale, who went through the exact same ritual a short time ago. Neale, now a Herndon Staff member, told 蜜桃视频app he has a personal stake in these new midshipmen and women.
鈥淚 trained them myself 鈥� I was their detailer over the summer, put a lot of hard work and love into them,” he said fondly. “I think they have what it takes.鈥�
Meanwhile, parents like Bakkn say Wednesday’s Herndon Climb is the culmination of a journey that takes an entire community.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of parents here, that I only know via Facebook,” she explained. “As soon as we see each other, it鈥檚 the first time we鈥檝e met. Yet, we鈥檝e been support groups for each other. Parents look out for each other’s kids, just like all the kids look out for each other.”
鈥淭he kids just get used to the fact that, even if they don鈥檛 know who it is, if they see somebody with a camera taking a picture, they smile. 鈥楥ause they know it鈥檚 going to end up with mom,鈥� Bakkn went on.
She finished by saying: 鈥淭he tenacity I鈥檝e seen from these kids, they鈥檙e not gonna give up. They鈥檙e going to work together and support each other. It鈥檚 amazing.鈥�
It was after the task was completed that the real fun started. Midshipmen and parents, reunited, with smiles and exclamations of pride heard round the base for miles.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great deal for them [the parents] to be here to see their plebes be plebes no more,鈥� Neale said. “The parents do get rowdy.”
But what of the first years who actually built the human pyramid to scale the Herndon Marker?
It was a year of blood, sweat and tears 鈥� but all those 蜜桃视频app spoke to said they’re incredibly happy.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really believe this day would come, and now that it has, it鈥檚 kind of surreal,” remarked new midshipman James Marshall.
Marshall told 蜜桃视频app it’s hard to believe he’s no longer a plebe. He was part of the scrum at the base of the Herndon Monument, supporting the weight of dozens above him, willing his classmates to the top.
鈥淲e had a lot of times we got close to capping it, then we fell over and had to completely reset,鈥� he said.
But it was all the close calls that made the payoff worth it in the end.
鈥淎 lot of people who I was next to, I didn鈥檛 know before this,” Marshall told 蜜桃视频app. “But I was pushing through same as them. I think that shows the importance of this event, and also how close you become to anyone from the Naval Academy.鈥�
