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Local Pearl Harbor Survivor Frank Emond Passes Away At 104
January 10, 2023
Pearl Harbor survivor Frank Emond of Cantonment has passed away at age 104.
Last May, Emond broke his own world record when he led the Pensacola Civic Band in the seventh annual Pensacola Memorial Day Concert at the Community Maritime Park amphitheater.
He held the Guinness World Record as “World’s Oldest Conductor” for leading the U.S. Air Force Band’s Airmen of Note in Glenn Miller’s iconic “In the Mood” at the American Veteran Center’s “America Valor: A Salute to our Heroes”. He set the previous record at age 103 last November in Washington, D.C.
“I’m so happy that I’m still able to do this. It was my life’s work conducting, so once or twice a year when I get a chance, it’s always good,” Emond said. “I’m real happy I still have the physical strength to do this.”
Originally from Rhode Island, Emond enlisted in the Navy in 1938 as a musician. He played the French horn for the ship’s band and even got to perform at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York before he was assigned to the USS Emond, CWO4 USN (RET.), spent his naval career as a musician and band director. He was on the stern of the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) getting ready to play morning “Colors” on his French horn when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Emond then walked to the conductor’s stand, picked up the baton and proceeded to direct the band in “Stars and Stripes”.
After seven years of playing horn, he became a Navy bandleader, retiring in 1968.
He remained a music man; sometimes leading the music at Gonzalez Methodist and performing with the Pensacola Civic Band.
Comments
18 Responses to “Local Pearl Harbor Survivor Frank Emond Passes Away At 104”
RIP, Mr. Emond. I loved your last conducting of “In The Mood”! I’ll bet you would have had some wonderful stories to tell about your experiences in WWII. We speak English and not German or Japanese because of The Greatest Generation. Thank you!
Uncle Frank as we knew him when he married my husband’s Aunt. What a wonderful addition to our family. He began traveling with my company, Sunshine Express Tours and soon met Ms Pat and they were a delight to be in our group. I had the pleasure of taking him to several city’s to be honored in their Veterans celebrations where he would speak and Marshall their parades. Our Granddaughter has chosen a career in the Navy and he was so proud as we visited him just last week. We will miss him but know he is making beautiful music in God’s choir.
Dear Frank, you will be missed by so many here on earth. Knowing you, it’s now happy volunteering in heaven. So enjoyed the years we worked together with the Red Cross at the Navy Hospital’s front desk.
LaRita
I didn’t know you Sir but I thank You from The Bottom of my heart for your service. May You Rest In Peace.
Such a good life Frank lived.
My great uncle was also a Pearl Harbor survivor, but he passes away from natural causes in the 80s. His brother, my grandfather, served in the South Pacific at the tail end of WW2 and died in 1998.
The greatest generation is almost nothing but a memory at this point. Remember and cherish them…
God bless Bandmaster Emond and his family. The Navy Musicians that followed in his footsteps were truly inspired by his talent and his service. Wishing the family love & Aloha from Pearl Harbor.
He rode in my father’s model A in the Veteran’s Day parade in November of 2022. I was so honored to have had the privilege of meeting you, and even more honored that my son got to meet you. It helped him realize that his great grandfather was not alone at Pearl Harbor that awful day. Thank you for all you did. Fair winds and following seas sir
You were a Hero Sir…I wish that I could’ve met You.
Roy,
I am so, so sorry to hear about the passing of your dad!
I had the honor of being in your dad’s NAS Pensacola Band from 1963-1965 in Bldg. 191. I became close to him while I was the Band Yeoman. He used to let me use his white Nash Rambler to pick up supplies for the band. I had the pleasure of talking to him on the phone two years ago. While we were talking, I told him that I never knew he was a Pearl Harbor survivor. I wish I knew that at the time. After we shared some memories, I dug up some photos of him during that time and mailed them to him.
I think of him often. He will be missed by all who knew him!
the greatest generation for sure i think my dad may have gone to the same high school .so fortunate that we live in this great country.god bless all those from dec 7th 1941;
well done good and faithful servant
Fly High at Gods Speed, It is sad that all the great fighting men are going away. And how quickly this nation is changing now they are almost gone. I know this nation now that we live in is not what they fault for. May God Bless You Sir. You will forever have my deepest respect.
Mr. Emond you walked the halls of Naval Hospital Pensacola for many years as a Red Cross volunteer. You are missed here. Thank you, Sir, for your service to our patients here at NHP but also for your service to this fine country.
We will miss you
Greatest generation. They even “did it” perfectly without TV remotes, cell towers and plastic.
Bless his soul Dear God in Jesus’ name…amen.
Mr. Emond it was a pleasure to have known you. You have served God, country and family well sir.
Fly high Mr. Emond. Always enjoyed reading about you.
Very sorry for the Families loss.