A year ago today, Fox News broadcast the story of Pfc. Joshua Sparling. Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade and FNC “War Stories” host Oliver North had visited Walter Reedy Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. and learned of a disgusting, anti-military death wish card received by Pfc. Sparling. It was the only Christmas card he got:

Fox News, bloggers, and talk radio coverage prompted an outpouring of support for Pfc. Sparling.

Now, a year later, he is still at Walter Reed. Pfc. Sparling recently underwent surgery and is recovering from a leg amputation (via the Port Huron Times Herald):

After more than five hours of surgery Wednesday, Pfc. Joshua Sparling is slowly recovering from having his right leg amputated, his father said.

Doctors had hoped to save the 25-year-old Greenwood Township man’s leg after he was hit by a bomb in Iraq nearly a year ago, but the damage was too extensive. The surgery was done at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Sparling, a graduate of Yale High School, is a paratrooper with the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne. Mike Sparling said after doctors amputated his son’s leg, they found the blood vessels had hardened and were choking the blood supply. Also, no new nerve endings had grown in the leg.

“It became a necessary amputation, rather than just one because of the pain,” Mike Sparling said.

Josh Sparling made national news after he received hate mail shortly after arriving at Walter Reed Army Medical Center last year. He was hurt while on foot patrol in Ramadi, Iraq.

Please send your good wishes to Pfc. Sparling again this year:

Pfc. Joshua Sparling
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20307-5001

Let him know his heroism and sacrifice are not forgotten.

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You can send cards to other wounded troops at Walter Reed here:

Red Cross
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue NW
Heaton Pavillion
3EO5
Washington, DC 20307

Several readers recommend “Let’s Say Thanks,” a service that allows you to send a free personalized postcard greeting to deployed servicemen and women.

Stars & Stripes has a comprehensive list of ways to send good cheer to the troops this season.

Marshall at On Tap and WaPo columnist Marc Fisher call attention to the Wreaths Across America project, blogged here last year.

You remember the unforgettable photo:

Well, the company that quietly started the tradition of laying wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery 15 years ago, Worcester Wreath Company founded by Morrill Worcester, is now a national phenomenon–and has a website and video:

They’ll be leading wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington on December 14th and are coordinating events across the country. Dozens of sites have signed up, but the company is trying to get help coordinating events at the following locations:

California

Golden Gate National Cemetery
San Francisco National Cemetery
Veterans Memorial Grove Cemetery

Connecticut

Middletown Veterans Cemetery

Hawaii

E. HI Veterans Cemetery
Kauai Veterans Cemetery
Maui Veterans Cemetery
Molokai Veterans Cemetery
Lanai Veterans Cemetery

Indiana

Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery

Iowa

Iowa Veterans Home & Cemetery

Kansas

Ft. Scott National Cemetery

Kentucky

Danville National Cemetery

Lousiana

Port Hudson National Cemetery

Maryland

Baltimore National Cemetery
Loudon National Cemetery
Easern Shore Veterans Cemetery
Rocky Gap Veterans Cemetery

Minnesota

Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery

Mississippi

Corinth National Cemetery
Natchez National Cemetery

Missouri

State Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville

New Jersey

Finns National Cemetery

New Mexico

Santa Fe National Cemetery

New York

Calverton National Cemetery
Long Island National Cemetery

North Carolina

Mockville Veterans Memorial

Pennsylvania

Penn Soldiers & Sailors Home Cemetery

South Dakota

Hot Springs National Cemetery
South Dakota Veterans Home Cemetery

Tennessee

Texas

Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
San Antonio National Cemetery

Virginia

Alexandria National Cemetery
Ball’s Bluff National Cemetery
City Point National Cemetery
Cold Harbor National Cemetery
Culpeper National Cemetery
Danville National Cemetery
Fort Harrison National Cemetery
Glendale National Cemetery
Hampton National Cemetery
Richmond National Cemetery
Staunton National Cemetery

Please help out if you can.

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Previous:

Pfc. Joshua Sparling update
Pfc. Joshua Sparling speaks
Thank you, Joshua Sparling
Counter the hate
A batch of goodness
Unhinged scumbag of the year (Bluto has more.)
Good wishes for Pfc. Joshua Sparling