UPDATED! Massive Show of Support for Chick-fil-A Sets World Record for Company

This afternoon I drove to the nearest  Chick-fil-A to show my support on Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.   I had expected a good turnout but nothing like what I saw.  The place was packed, and cars were parked along the curbs and down into a lower lot.  There were two lanes – one going through the drive through and another that circled the building while you waited to get in line for the drive through.

I arrived at about 5:20 PM and drove out at about 6:45 PM.   That was something that I would never have done under ordinary circumstances.  But today was no ordinary day.  Today was a day that Americans stood up and stood with one of their own that was under attack for speaking out and speaking clearly about their values.

As I picked up my order, I asked the young man at the drive-through window if it had been like that all day.    He answered, “Since 6 o’clock this morning.”  And he said that it had been non-stop all day.  They had served so many customers they were worried about running out of food.

Everybody looked cheerful, and some stood in the light rain with umbrellas over their heads as they waited to get inside.  One guy gave me a thumbs up as he crossed in front of my vehicle to enter the restaurant.  It was clear that people had come with a purpose – to show their support.

It is days like these that make you proud to be an American.   The management of Chick-fil-A stood up for traditional values in the face of those who would accept no opinion but their own.  And conservative Americans – which actually represent the majority of Americans – stood with them.  It was a refreshing change from the shameless behaviors of the Occupy movement.

This is what it will take for us to take America back from those who would strip her from her moorings.  This is the type of unity that conservatives and people of faith must show as we prepare for the fight of our life in this upcoming election, the one Sarah Palin has called “the election of our lifetime.”

Speaking of Governor Palin, we know that she had Chick-fil-A in The Woodlands in Texas on Friday and in Paradise Valley in Arizona today.  From the photo is this local article, it looks like Palin-endorsed Martha Zoller stood with Chick-fil-A today also.

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UPDATE:

Daniel Halpern at the Weekly Standard reports that Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy told Pastor Rick Warren in a phone call 7 hours before the last stores closed that Chick-fil-A had set a world record yesterday.  See a copy of Warren’s tweet here.

There were a lot of photos of the turnout in various Chick-fil-A locations posted on Facebook – I just Shared some of them at PalinECoalition.  Here are some of my favorites.  They were Shared on Facebook by Brenda Battle Jordan, who has a Chick-fil-A photo collection on her Facebook Wall.
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Jennifer Jacobs at Iowa Politics also posted this commentary about Governor Palin’s interview with Eric Bolling yesterday:

Sarah Palin says she’s coming to Iowa soon – after she grabs some fries and chicken from Chick-fil-A.

“We’re on our way to Missouri to help out on a campaign and then to Nebraska and Iowa,” Palin told Fox News’ Eric Bolling in a live interview this afternoon, “but today we’re in Phoenix where there’s good Chick-fil-A and can’t wait to eat those waffle fries and spicy chicken.”

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Activists for traditional marriage have turned out in force across the country today in support of Chick-fil-A’s president, who said in an interview last month that he’s “guilty as charged” of backing marriage between one man and one woman.

In the Des Moines area today, more than 3,000 people lined up at the Chick-fil-A at the Jordan Creek mall’s food court, joining in a battle of words and demonstrations over same-sex relationships.

Palin, who was GOP’s vice residential nominee in 2008, has shown her support for Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy’s comments by posing for a photo holding a bag of the take-out from the fast food chain, and by speaking out in television interviews.

She said on Fox News Tuesday that same-sex marriage supporters who boycott the company put a “chilling effect on our 1st Amendment rights.” Cathy was merely voicing support for “kind of that cornerstone of all civilization and all religions since the beginning of time,” she said.

Related Links:

Chick-fil-A restaurants become rallying points for supporters  

‘Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day’ sets record, restaurant chain says

Billy Graham Offers His Support to Chick-fil-A

Rev. Billy Graham had Chick-fil-A delivered to home

Crowds flock to Chick-fil-A   (Mixed report from liberal AJC.   Shame on Kennesaw State University and Emory University!)

Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day brings out supporters, protesters

Chick-fil-A Has ‘Record-Setting’ Sales on Appreciation Day (mixed – CEO Cathy’s comments were not “anti-gay”)  

Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day In Chicago: Big Crowds Turn Out To Support Chicken Chain (info but leftist spin)

THIS IS WHAT CHICK-FIL-A APPRECIATION DAY LOOKED LIKE (WITH YOUR PICTURES, STORIES, AND VIDEO)  

Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day: Great Turnout, Few Blacks In My Town

WHAT BOYCOTT? CHICK-FIL-A APPRECIATION DAY DRAWS CROWDS NATIONWIDE

My strictly kosher experience at Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day

Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day draws crowds, company gratitude

Chick-fil-A supporters turn out in droves for ‘Appreciation Day’

Chick-fil-A ‘appreciation’ day: Frenzied sales set record  

Warner Robins Chick-fil-A business booming on ‘appreciation day’

Never Be Chicken About Your Beliefs

Free Speech for Christians?

Your Daley Gator Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day Linkapalooza!

Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day Videos

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