Herndon Monument
Encyclopedia
Monument
A monument is a type of structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, or simply as an example of historic architecture...
on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy is a tall grey obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
. It was erected in memory of Captain William Lewis Herndon
William Lewis Herndon
Commander William Lewis Herndon was one of the United States Navy's outstanding explorers and seamen. He chose to go down with his ship while other lives were still aboard and while in command of the steamer Central Americas 44th trip, which sank in a three day and night hurricane off Cape...
who courageously decided to go down with his ship, SS Central America
SS Central America
SS Central America, sometimes called the Ship of Gold, was a 280-foot sidewheel steamer that operated between Central America and the eastern coast of the United States during the 1850s. She was originally named the SS George Law, after Mr. George Law of New York...
, and the men left aboard rather than save himself on September 12, 1857. All women and children and many of the men aboard were saved by a nearby ship during the storm.
It is the site of the famous "plebes-no-more" ceremony, where the plebes (first year students at the academy) all work together to climb the greased monument and replace a plebe "dixie-cup hat
Sailor cap
A sailor cap is a round, flat visorless hat worn by sailors in many of the world's navies. A tally, an inscribed black silk ribbon, is tied around the base which usually bears the name of a ship or a navy. The cap may be further embellished with a badge, cockade or other accessory...
" on top with a combination cover. This is the official end of the plebe year.
It is a Naval Academy tradition that the Midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
who replaces the dixie cup hat will be given a pair of Admiral's shoulder boards. Legend says that he or she will be the first of his or her class to make Flag Rank, although in reality this has not yet occurred.
The academy began recording times in 1959. In 1962 Midshipman 4th Class Ed Linz scaled the monument with the aid of a cargo net. Using such devices is now banned.
The record was set in 1969, when Midshipman Larry Fanning made the climb in 1 minute and 30 seconds. However the monument was not greased.
Midshipman 4th Class Melvyn Davis of the Class of 1991 scaled the monument in 43 minutes and 44 seconds in May 1988, believed to be the fastest time since the tradition of greasing the monument began.
The 2010 Herndon Monument climb for the Class of 2013 took place on Monday, May 24, 2010 at 1:30pm. Superintendent Vice Admiral
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
Jeffrey Fowler
Jeffrey Fowler
Jeffrey L. Fowler is a United States Navy vice admiral who served as the 60th Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy until his retirement in August 2010.-Early life and career:...
indicated dissatisfaction that year with the risk of injury associated with the climbing tradition and a desire to discontinue it. Vice Adm. Fowler ordered the Brigade of Midshipmen not to slather the monument with lard “to improve the safety of the event.” However, his successor, Vice Admiral Michael Miller, reinstated the tradition in 2011, citing that "[c]onducting the ceremonial climb in the same manner as so many previous classes helps to instill spirit and camaraderie among plebes and better links them to the many classes that have gone before them. The Herndon Monument climb serves as a useful event in reinforcing teamwork, organization and leadership."
Table of recorded times
| Year Climbed | Class Year | Time (H:MM:SS) | Scaler |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | 1962 | 0:12:00 | |
| 1960 | 1963 | John M. Truesdell | |
| 1962 | 1965 | 0:03:00 | Ed Linz |
| 1969 | 1972 | 0:01:30 | Larry Fanning |
| 1980 | 1983 | 2:43:00 | |
| 1981 | 1984 | 1:21:00 | |
| 1982 | 1985 | 1:44:00 | |
| 1983 | 1986 | 1:43:55 | Kevin Delamer |
| 1984 | 1987 | 2:22:00 | |
| 1985 | 1988 | 3:12:23 | |
| 1986 | 1989 | 1:23:07 | Kenneth Grimes |
| 1987 | 1990 | 1:51:20 | |
| 1988 | 1991 | 0:43:44 | Melvyn Davis |
| 1989 | 1992 | 1:51:30 | Sam Cook |
| 1990 | 1993 | 1:34:50 | Larry Parker |
| 1992 | 1995 | ~4:00:00 | James Golladay |
| 1993 | 1996 | 1:38:20 | Shaun Stephenson |
| 1994 | 1997 | 1:44:20 | |
| 1995 | 1998 | 4:05:17 | Steve Fortmann |
| 1996 | 1999 | 2:08:46 | |
| 1997 | 2000 | 2:55:17 | |
| 1998 | 2001 | 2:22:55 | Josh Stewart |
| 1999 | 2002 | 2:07:41 | |
| 2000 | 2003 | 1:19:44 | |
| 2001 | 2004 | 2:15:52 | |
| 2002 | 2005 | 2:07:41 | Daniel Knott |
| 2003 | 2006 | 1:19:00 | Daniel Shea |
| 2004 | 2007 | 2:19:24 | Philip Johnson |
| 2005 | 2008 | 1:16:13 | Dave Olson |
| 2006 | 2009 | 1:14:15 | Brian Richards |
| 2007 | 2010 | 1:32:43 | Jamie Shrock |
| 2008 | 2011 | 2:35:59 | Greg Reichel |
| 2009 | 2012 | 1:14:38 | Schyler Widman |
| 2010 | 2013 | 0:02:05 | Keegan Albi |
| 2011 | 2014 | 2:41:32 | Matthew Dalton |