PARIS – Retired school teacher Louise Huff wasn’t able to go to Augusta last month to receive a state honor, so Tuesday the award came to her, along with a crowd of family and friends.

Huff, a 95-year-old resident of the Market Square Health Care Center, was one of 33 recipients of the Maine Health Care Association’s Remember ME achievement award. It was developed seven years ago as a way of honoring the accomplishments of residents in long-term care facilities.

On April 3, the association recognized the recipients with a ceremony and exhibit at the Hall of Flags in the State House.

Huff was raised in Camden on the Elmhurst Dairy Farm, graduated from the Camden High School in 1932, and earned a bachelor of science degree in home economics from the Farmington Normal School.

After her first teaching job at the Norridgewock High School, Huff came to Paris in 1947. She taught at Paris High School, worked with the Extension Service for nine years, and returned to teaching at Oxford Hills High School before retiring in 1972.

Huff took up quilting in 1973, and five years later went back to Camden to become part of a 10-member committee that started the Maine Pine Tree Quilters Guild. The guild is still in place and has since attracted over 2,000 members.

Nadine Grosso, the director of communications for the Maine Health Care Association, said the association includes 250 long-term care facilities in the state and chose the 33 recipients of the achievement award out of 62 nominations. The age of the honorees ranges from 24 to 105.

“They are our loved ones. They are our family members,” Grosso said. “They are people who have spent the best years of their lives giving to the state of Maine and the community they live in.”

The Remember ME project establishes an exhibit of photographs and biographies at the State House.

“We’re honored to have Louise as a resident of our facility,” said Phil Dubois, administrator of Market Square Health Care Center. “And likewise, honored that Louise has allowed us to be part of her family and her home as well.”

Lynne Wheeler, the activities director at the center who nominated Huff for the award, said Huff is the fourth person from the center to receive the honor.

The honorees also included Howard A. Stockwell Jr., a World War II veteran and resident of the Maine Veterans’ Home in Paris who passed away prior to the ceremony.

Huff reflected on the award, saying people should be remembered “day by day, week by week, year by year.”

“You can look at somebody and say, ‘I know something good about you,'” she said. “We don’t say those words often enough.”

She recalled growing up and joining the 4-H Club as soon as she was able, at age 10. She said she knew she wanted to be a teacher after her work with the organization.

“When I did demonstrations for 4-H, I thought if I can show somebody how to do something, that’s something,” she said.

Several people complimented Huff after her remarks, remembering the influence she had had on their lives.

“You have taught me so much about being a strong, independent woman, and I thank you for that,” said Huff’s niece, Mary McEnroe.

“I want everyone to know what an important part of my life she will always be to me,” said Shirley Getchell, a former student of Huff’s. “I think so much of you, Louise, and I thank you very much.”

Pat Libby, a member of the Quilters Guild, surprised Huff with a reproduction of a logo quilt created for a contest to establish the logo for the state organization. Libby also presented her with a ring from this year’s quilting show.

“I know every person that made every block,” Huff said of the quilt. “This is a dream come true.”