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It all startedinJuly1976 inthecityofPhiladelphiaduring thecelebrations
of the bi-centenary of the United States independence.
From July 21-24 of 1976, during the legionaries convention, more
than 5.000 people gathered in several activities such military parades, ball
dances, dinners and meetings between the families of the legionaries. The
city stopped to take part in this big patriotic event.
Most of the participants that didn’t reside in Philadelphia stayed in
hotels around the city.
Once the festivities ended the legionnaires and their families went back
home and a big nightmare surfaced after three days.
One of the legionnaires started to have a very high fever, diarrhea and
cough. His wife, worried about her husband’s (47 years old) health takes
him to the hospital of the city they lived in. The case gets worse every day.
With very strong symptoms of pneumonia, he died.
Other legionaries were affected by the same illness and this situation
would not be the only among participants of legionnaires Convention,
(1) Legionaries in 1976
(2) Military parade in 1976
