Herndon Monument climb
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The Naval Academy Class of 2023 is jubilant after placing the upperclassman's hat on the tip of the Herndon Monument. It was an exercise in persistence that took 3 hours and 39 seconds. The Herndon Monument Climb traditionally takes place at the end of the first year, but was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Herndon Monument climb
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The Naval Academy Class of 2023 is jubilant after placing the upperclassman's hat on the tip of the Herndon Monument. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Herndon Monument climb
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At 3 hours and 39 seconds into the Herndon Monument Climb at the Naval Academy, Midshipman Second Class Jim Crossfield of Philadelphia raises his fist in victory after placing the upperclassman's hat on the pinnacle, replacing the Dixie cup that had already been knocked off the top of the greased 21-foot monument. The Class of 2023 are tackling the Herndon Monument Climb on August 22 because their traditional climb at the end of the first year was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Herndon Monument climb
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At 3 hours and 39 seconds into the Herndon Monument Climb at the Naval Academy, Midshipman Second Class Jim Crossfield of Philadelphia placed the upperclassman's hat on the pinnacle, replacing the Dixie cup that had already bern knocked off the top of the greased 21-foot monument. Crossfield, who stands at 6 feet two inches tall, said that after the Class of 2023 got the base set, he knew he could finish the job. "I'm the guy. I'm tall enough to touch it." (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Herndon Monument climb
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A midshipman manages to knock off the plebe's "dixie cup" hat with an upperclassman's hat more than two and a half hours after the Class of 2023 began the Herndon Monument Climb. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Herndon Monument climb
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About two hours into the Herndon Monument Climb, the Class of 2023 begins to get halfway up the column. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Herndon Monument climb
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Naval Academy Midshipmen 2nd class were still struggling to get up the Herndon Monument to replaced the plebe Dixie cup with the upperclassman's hat after two hours. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Herndon Monument climb
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The Class of 2023 tries to maintain a second tier one and a half hours into the Herndon Monument Climb. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Herndon Monument climb
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After one and a half hours, Naval Academy Midshipmen 2nd class were still struggling to get halfway up the Herndon Monument to replaced the plebe Dixie cup with the upperclassman's hat. The Class of 2023 are tackling the Herndon Monument Climb on August 22 because their traditional climb at the end of the first year was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Herndon Monument climb
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The Naval Academy Class of 2023 are tackling the Herndon Monument Climb on August 22 because their traditional climb at the end of the first year was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. The 21-foot monument is slathered with vegetable grease at the start of the climb. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Herndon Monument climb
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Midshipmen in the Class of 2023 show the strain after struggling for an hour to climb the monument. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Herndon Monument climb
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Early in the climb, the mission is to wipe off the vegetable grease covering the monument. The 21-foot monument is slathered with vegetable grease at the start of the climb. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Herndon Monument climb
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Early in the climb, the mission is to wipe off the vegetable grease covering the 21 foot monument. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Herndon Monument climb
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Early in the climb, the mission is to wipe off the vegetable grease covering the monument. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Herndon Monument climb
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Midshipmen strain as the Class of 2023 strives to complete the Herndon Monument Climb. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Herndon Monument climb
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A midshipman grimaces during the tough job of forming the base for the Class of 2023's Herndon Monument Climb. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Herndon Monument climb
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Shirts are used to wipe off the vegetable shortening that covers the Herndon Monument. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Herndon Monument climb
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The Class of 2023 ties shirts together and tosses additional shirts to those perched in the second tier around the monument so that they can wipe off the thick layer of vegetable shortening that covers the Herndon Monument. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Herndon Monument climb
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As the Class of 2023 begins the Herndon Monument Climb, the first challenge is to remove the gobs of vegetable shortening slathered on the 21-foot monument by the seniors, known as Firsties. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Herndon Monument climb
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The Class of 2023 dashes to the Herndon Monument to begin the traditional climb because it was canceled in 2020 at the end of their first year due to the pandemic. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
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