KITTERY, Maine — At 3:47 p.m. on Wednesday, just feet from where history happened 107 years ago, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Greg Schaneville raised his right hand in salute.

Behind him, six other officers stood stoic in their dress whites as sirens wailed all over the yard to mark the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Portsmouth, which ended the brutal Russo-Japanese War.

The official signing took place in Building 86, just feet from where the officers stood in salute, but it was celebrated throughout the city of Portsmouth.

The wail of the siren was a signal to churches and residents throughout the city, who rang bells on that day to mark the historic event, and did so again on Wednesday.

In 2005, attorney and Treaty of Portsmouth historian Charles Doleac helped form a Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum to organize events to honor the 100th anniversary of the treaty's signing, and again the tradition of the bell-ringing began.

In 2010, Gov. John Lynch declared Sept. 5 Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day throughout the state.

Masaru Aniya, consul for culture and information with the Consulate General of Japan in Boston, was on hand for Wednesday's salute, and said he was moved to see the event so honored in the region.

“I am really touched by the fact that the historical event took place here in Portsmouth and is still respected by the Navy people here and (they) cherish the spirit of the peace movement,” Aniya said.

He said it was also good to learn about the citizen diplomacy that took place, and how significant that was in keeping the various delegates at the table.

Negotiations began in the summer of 1905 when President Theodore Roosevelt invited envoys of Russia and Japan to gather in the United States to discuss the terms for ending the Russo-Japanese War.

After careful consideration, the second floor of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard's General Stores Building, now the headquarters building, Building 86, was chosen as the site for the negotiations.

The second floor was renovated to include delegate offices, a dining area and the main negotiating room. Portsmouth and surrounding communities entertained the diplomats and their entourages with backyard parties, baseball games, theater events and other activities that helped keep the delegates at the table when discussions got difficult.

Before this week, Schaneville, who is from Louisiana, knew nothing about the signing of the peace treaty or the shipyard's role in ending the Japanese-Russo War. But part of his training to become a chief petty officer teaches him more about military history.

Shipyard Public Affairs Officer Gary Hildreth helped to educate him about the history behind the peace treaty, and the Navy's role.

“I think it was a good thing that the nation's President asked the United States Navy to answer the call, and we stepped up,” Schaneville said.

Hildreth said in this area, the treaty history is very much alive throughout the year, thanks to the work of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum and the work of Doleac, who is the pre-eminent American expert on the event.

“I think in this area and on the anniversary, there is a lot of outreach to promote the event and what took place. Unfortunately, if you are not from this area, you don't always get this part of our history,” Hildreth said.

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Gretyl Macalaster may be reached at gmacalaster@newstote.com.