On November 15, 2002, the New York Chiropractic Council kicked off its 13th Annual Convention in the calm waters of the East River with New York City's surreal skyline illuminated in the background.

It began Friday night on-board the dinner cruise ship, "Mystique," with an emotional tribute to the police officers, fire fighters and other rescue/relief workers who had contributed to the effort on 9-11 and over the following months. The moving ceremony carried hundreds of D.C.s under the Brooklyn Bridge to the safe harbor just outside the "Ground Zero" site where there was a moment of silence, followed by bagpipers playing "Amazing Grace."

Sgt. David Wadler of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) read an emotional letter written by Raymond W. Kelly, NYPD Commissioner. Com. Kelly thanked the chiropractors who had unselfishly served at Ground Zero, and made sure that they did not go unnoticed for the care they provided.

The ship eventually docked after circling the Statue of Liberty. An outpouring of feelings swept the attendees, as the Council honored those who had served. Dr. Pasquale Cerasoli, a chiropractor since 1943, remarked, "The sense of unity was so strong, it was the best chiropractic event I've attended since we received our licenses in 1963."

Also in attendance from the chiropractic community were Dr. D.D. Humber, President of the International Chiropractors Association (ICA); Ron Hendrickson, Executive Director of the ICA; Dr. Robert Braile, former ICA President; Drs. Jim Dubel and Bill Henry, co-founders of New Beginnings seminar; and Drs. Robert DeBonis and Margaret Verhagen, members of the New York State Chiropractic Board.

Other chiropractic leaders present were Janet Jordan, Executive Director of the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations (COCSA); Doris Christman, Treasurer of COCSA; and Dr. Stephen Simonetti, COCSA 1st Vice-President and newly appointed President of the Council.

New York Chiropractic College was represented by Dr. Thomas Ventimiglia, head of Post-Graduate education and Dr. Frank Lizzio, head of the Alumni Association. We were also joined by Dr. Frank Zolli, University of Bridgeport's College of Chiropractic President.

The New York Chiropractic Council convention continued Saturday morning through Sunday morning with dynamic speakers including Drs. Jim Sigafoose, Bob Braile, Tedd Koren, C.J. Mertz, Dave Jackson and Patrick Gentempo, Jr.

The intensity grew on Saturday night as the banquet began with an emotional pictorial tribute to September 11th and the chiropractors who had journeyed to New York and Washington, D.C. to serve pure, unadulterated chiropractic to all those at the sites. The slide show was followed by the reading of a letter from former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Several D.C.s from around the country then detailed their experiences serving at Ground Zero, including Dr. Tom Musto who was at the site with his adjusting table within moments of the tragedy.

A number of other individuals contributed to the evening, including Drs. Gentempo and Cerasoli, Ms. Virginia Mewborn from the American Red Cross, Maj. Steven Langford from the Salvation Army, and Rev. Lyndon Harris from St. Paul's Chapel.

Dr. Humber and Ron Hendrickson awarded a special plaque to Dr. Ellen Coyne, President Emeritus of the Council, for organizing the chiropractic relief effort.

A number of other honors and awards were distributed. Dr. John F. Przybylak, the convention's Master of Ceremonies and Western New York District President received the Council's "Beacon Award," New York's most coveted Chiropractic honor. This honor is bestowed upon the state's "Chiropractor of the Year."

The night concluded when all of the chiropractors who had worked at recovery sites in New York City and the Pentagon were invited up to the podium to be acknowledged and given awards. Tears and smiles were in abundance as a group photo was taken to capture the whole chiropractic experience.