Academy Tradition Marks Year's End for Plebes

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Plebes tackle the Herndon Monument. Stephanie Marudas hide caption

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Stephanie Marudas

Plebes tackle the Herndon Monument.

Stephanie Marudas

The first-year students of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., graduated from plebe to third-class status on Thursday. All they have left to do is climb the Herndon Monument, a 21-foot, gray obelisk.

That is not an easy task. Upper classmen lather the monument with 200 pounds of lard. The plebes must work together to climb to the top of the monument and replace a white, plebe "Dixie cup" hat with an upperclassman's hat.

Stephanie Marudas reports from WYPR in Baltimore.