‘Plebes no more!’ One of America’s quirkiest college traditions returns to the Naval Academy

Midshipman Gabe Neale, commander of this year’s Herndon Monument climb at the Naval Academy, poses in front of it before plebes began ascending it on May 17, 2023.  Midshipman Claire Pelletier-Heblock predicted the time that the 17th Company would need to scale the Herndon Monument on Wednesday morning, a bold statement. “Two hours,” she said.