OPERATION: Snaggletooth

"Look what Aunt Amy made me!" Morgan Flynn said to his mother after receiving a tooth fairy pillow from his aunt, Amy Painter. At the time, no one knew what this pillow crafted out of love would become to not only young Morgan, but to the children of America's fallen heroes.

On August 22, 2007, Morgan's father, CW2 Paul "Josh" Flynn and 13 other men lost their lives while serving their country in Multaka, Iraq. Shortly after Morgan lost his father, his mother Dusty Flynn called her sister Amy, and told her that Morgan was getting ready to lose his first tooth.  Amy had just finished making her own daughter a tooth fairy pillow and Dusty asked her if she would make one for Morgan. 

"We grew up with tooth fairy pillows," Amy said, "So I thought what can I do?" Amy decided to make the pillow out of one of Josh's uniforms. While her sister Dusty was out of town, she went to her house and sneaked one of Josh's BDU jackets, as well as a patch with the Airborne Wings embroidered on it.  After collecting these materials, she took them home and began to make Morgan's tooth fairy pillow. When Dusty came home, Amy told her that she was done with Morgan's pillow.  She gave her the pillow and said, "I hope you're not upset."

"I knew she wouldn't be.  I knew any one coat wouldn't be more special than the other when it came straight down to the BDU jackets," Amy said. "I really did not anticipate all this at all.  I did what she asked me to do, I made him a pillow. It was really intended just for Morgan."

Amy had only sewn the ends of Josh's name tape to the pillow, and they noticed that Morgan would use the name tape like a handle to carry his pillow. "It's something that he can keep. It really actually was made of his dad's uniform." Amy said.

"It's more than a tooth fairy pillow," Dusty added.

Amy completed Morgan's pillow in September of 2007.

Dusty approached her mother one day after several weeks of grieving the loss of her best friend.  She told her she wanted to do something for the other children who had also lost a parent in Iraq or Afghanistan.  She wanted these children to feel like more than just another statistic.  Her mother came up with the idea of creating a pillow for every child.

Dusty's mother, Cindy Chester responded with, "What do you think if we make tooth fairy pillows for all of these kids?"

"Oh my God!  That's it!"

So they got together with Dusty's sister Amy to make sure that it was alright with her since it was originally her idea. They then approached their sister Mandy Stroud to see if she would be on board with the idea as well.  They were all quite determined to make sure that no one was left behind.

For the four women, coming up with a name for their organization proved to be tricky.  They threw ideas around the office, and were asking people they work with for help. They wanted it to include the word OPERATION in their name.

"I looked at Amy and I was like Snaggletooth!" Dusty said "So then, well we have to have a slogan."

After tossing ideas around they decided on "Fairies in Flight…No Tooth Left Behind" because Josh was a pilot, and because he always said that nobody is ever left behind.

Dusty was contacted by a nonprofit organization that was giving away laptop computers to the children of soldiers that lost their lives.  When Dusty had met with her Casualty Assistance Officer, she had signed paperwork saying that she would allow nonprofit organizations to contact her to give Morgan gifts because they want to. She knew that there was a list of families who wanted to be contacted, but they needed to prove to the Army that their intentions were good, and officially become a nonprofit organization.  

Once they had their list, they began the process of contacting the families of fallen soldiers.  Each family receives a letter offering heart felt condolences for the loss of their soldier, and a form which they can complete and send in to the organization. Families who have lost a soldier can also contact the organization and request that a pillow be made for their children.

On April 14, 2008, OPERATION:  Snaggletooth sent out the first of many pillows.  A total of four pillows have been made at this point.  The ladies are self-proclaimed perfectionists, with some pillows requiring 12 hours of work to complete them, and several tries.

As I was getting ready to ask the ladies a few more questions, Morgan came in from T-Ball practice. Morgan hopped up in the stool next to me, and I asked him how he felt about what his family is doing for these children who have lost a parent.  "Good!  Super Duper!" he replied with a smile that stretched from ear to ear.  Morgan has also been involved in this endeavor by removing buttons and name tapes from uniforms that have been donated.

I then asked them what they considered to be the ultimate goal of their organization. Before any of the ladies had a chance to reply, Morgan said, "To make tooth pillows!" A roar of laughter filled the room.

"To give these kids a memorial to honor their parent," Amy stated.

"Each and every kid has a name, and there are people who understand their pain and hurt" Dusty added.

 When I asked them how they feel about what they're doing, they unanimously said that it's indescribable. Their hearts and souls are in it 100 percent.

Mandy said, "I eat, sleep, and breathe OPERATION:  Snaggletooth."

Amy stated that people have to be selfless, "It's really just not about you.  It's about what I can do for you."