Herndon Monument
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The Herndon Monument is a 21-foot-tall grey granite obelisk on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy. It was erected in memory of Captain William Lewis Herndon, who died while helping to evacuate pass
Herndon Monument
The Herndon Monument in 1868
The 2004 climb
A midshipman atop the monument in 2003
Sailor cap
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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
Herndon Monument
…students at the academy, known as plebes or freshmen, are expected to work together to scale the monument, with the goal of replacing a plebeian "dixie cup" hat on top with an upperclassman's combination cover. Before the climb, the monument is customarily greased by upperclassmen with as much as 50 pounds…
A Russian Navy sailor cap
US sailors in "dixie cup" caps
Turkish Navy sailors in uniform
China "square rig" or "pork pie" hat