The COVID-19 pandemic halted many events over the past year, but as the U.S. Naval Academy gets ready for its commencement ceremony later this week, some are calling it a sign of things getting back to normal.This comes as an Annapolis tradition returned this year at the Naval Academy as the class of 2024 scaled the Herndon Monument on Sunday for the traditional Herndon Monument Climb."(It's) very exciting, so liberating. The Naval Academy is back to normal, and I would suggest our local communities are quickly getting back to normal, too, which is such a great feeling," U.S. Naval Academy Vice Adm. Sean Buck said. "We say so often that we like to celebrate the greatest milestones in our Naval careers in front of our families because it's the love and support we get from all our family members that allow us to take on the different missions and the sacrifices that we do. So to have moms and dads, brothers and sisters, and grandma and grandpas here is just so rewarding."The U.S. Naval Academy has many Commissioning Week events planned this week leading up to a graduation ceremony on Friday.