Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum 2011 Events & Initiatives

 


Japanese Consul General Hikihara congratulates Charles Doleac on receiving the Order of the Rising Sun, God Rays with Rosette

On Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day, September 5, 2011, the Japanese Government awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette to JASNH President Charles Doleac. The announcement of the award and the award ceremony at Wentworth By the Sea earned international media attention (Kyodo News and Associated Press) as well as statewide coverage.

 
Mayor Tom Ferrini reads the Proclamation as Asst. Superintendent Zadravec's children ring the bell for Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day. [Credit: Deb Cram, Seacoast Media Group]


Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day, created by legislation in 2010 that designates September 5th as an official statewide observance, in perpetuity was celebrated with a Governor’s Proclamation, US Navy salute at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and bell-ringing throughout the Seacoast. A special ceremony in Market Square included

 

  • Mayor of Portsmouth reading the Governor’s Proclamation, bell-ringing by students from Portsmouth High School in anticipation of the October visit by homestay exchange students from Nichinan, Japan
  • blowing of the traditional shofar at Temple Israel

 

The lecture program, “Teddy Roosevelt’s Nobel Peace Prize,” offered through the NH Humanities Council, was presented three times in 2011 (with variations tailored to each audience to encourage further local research):

  • Temple Israel, “Portsmouth Peace Treaty and the Portsmouth Jewish Community”
  •  Exeter Historical Society
  • New Hampshire State Archivists Association

The Portsmouth Peace Treaty Teachers Guide/school curriculum was used as the basis for National History Day projects by students in Kansas, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Exeter, New Hampshire. The Exeter High School students won their History Day in New Hampshire Senior Group Documentary category with a 10-minute film, “The Portsmouth Peace Treaty: A Victory for the World” and went on the National History Day in Baltimore where they won a national Naval History prize.


Students from Nichinan Gakuen Jr-Sr High School at the Treaty exhibit. 

The Japan-America Society of NH took the lead on the Nichinan, Japan Sister City visit and homestay student exchange in October by 17 students and 4 teachers from the Nichinan Gakuen Junior-Senior High School. In addition, 15 adults including the Deputy Mayor of Nichinan traveled to Portsmouth at the same time to honor the 100th anniversary of the death of Baron Komura.  JASNH worked with the schools and the City of Portsmouth to organize a welcoming ceremony at City Hall, a luncheon at Wentworth By the Sea and tours of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty exhibit and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The school hosted an evening American Supper for the guests with the homestay program families.

 
Peter Somssich, organizer of the Labor/Portsmouth Peace Treaty Concert

The Labor/Portsmouth Peace Treaty Concert & Rally on September 25th gained front page coverage from the Portsmouth Herald and Fosters, expanding knowledge of the Treaty and the tradition of citizen diplomacy in New Hampshire.

 

 

© Copyright 2005 Japan-America Society of New Hampshire
NH Web Design  |  Content Management  |  Web Hosting