For the second year in a row, Kaskaskia College and the Lakeside Quilters held a reception for area Purple Heart recipients at the Lifelong Learning Center at KC on Wednesday.  12 Purple Heart recipients were honored, with each receiving a unique handmade quilt.  In its continuing effort to honor those who has served this country, the groups once again teamed up to honor those who were wounded in defense of this country and received the Purple Heart commendation.  This year’s ceremony honored Donald Carman of Carlyle; Gerhard Malcharek of Irvington; Roy Aarons of Centralia; Alex Pracht of Centralia; L. Kent Maples of Greenville; Laverne Thole of Saint Rose; Dustin Wade Nehrt of Centralia; Glenn Stoecklin of Greenville; Gary Yarbrough of Centralia; Willie Harris of Centralia; Gary Herrin of Kell; and Michael Runyon of Centralia.  The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the armed forces of the United States who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action.  Dr. Jim Underwood, veteran of the Vietnam conflict and President of Kaskaskia College for the past 14 years, although not a Purple Heart recipient, was also given a quilt in honor of his service to his country and to the many recognitions of veterans he has instituted in his tenure at KC.  Underwood will retire effective June 30, 2015.