Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day Draws Crowds of Customers in Wheaton

Hundreds of people ate at Wheaton's  on Wednesday's national "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day."

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee rallied efforts toward the day in support of the company's CEO Dan Cathy after his recent comments touting the biblical definition of a family unit.

Last month, Cathy told the Baptist Press that Chick-fil-A is "guilty as charged" in supporting a biblical definition of a family unit. 

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee organized "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day," in support of Cathy, and of "a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse," according to his website.

Cathy's comments sparked criticism from gay rights activists, prompting politicians to take a stance against the company, according to the Chicago Sun Times.

Last week, when asked whether the chain should be allowed to expand in Chicago, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel said the company's values "are not Chicago's values," and are not respectful of its residents, neighbors or family members, according to the Sun Times.

At Wheaton's Chick-fil-A store Wednesday afternoon, Forest Park resident Natalie Monson said she was there to support families. She said she was surprised that people reacted angrily over Cathy's comment, which Monson interpreted as supportive of families.

"So, I'm here with my family," she said. 

Naperville resident Bill Hahn said he went to Chick-fil-A to support Cathy, "and his right to have personal and religious beliefs that are a part of our freedom as Americans and to show support for him and against the liberal zealots that want to overreact to personal choice," Hahn said. "To make a statement against overly liberal tendencies to overreact."

Chick-fil-A released a statement Wednesday that the privately held company did not create Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.

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