This reception was a night to remember for many members of the African American community in St. Paul, held at Union Hall in the Rondo neighborhood. Orrington C. Hall had been the commander of Company B in the 16th Battalion of the Minnesota Home Guard before leaving the Guard to serve overseas as YMCA secretary. The segregated 16th Battalion was created by the Minnesota Commission for Public Safety, set up by the legislature to enforce loyalty during wartime. The reception on Wednesday, July 31 (as you can see, the poster has the date corrected by hand) presented a long list of guest speakers and musical performances. The dancing continued until 1:00 a.m. and ended in a grand finale as White singer and composer Tracy Young sang “Home of the Red, White, and Blue” with everyone joining in chorus. The Appeal declared it “one of the biggest demonstrations ever held in St. Paul.”