96-Year-Old Veteran with Flat Tire Enters Chick-fil-A ‘Almost in Tears’–Then Manager Leaps into Action

(Illustration - Shutterstock)

A long-term manager at a Maryland Chick-fil-A went above and beyond to help a regular customer in distress, and netizens nationwide are full of praise for his selfless good deed.

Manager Daryl Howard was serving customers at the restaurant in Severn, Maryland, when a well-known customer came to the counter in a state of agitation. The customer, a 96-year-old World War II veteran known to the staff as Mr. Lee—Lee is his first name—asked for help with a flat tire.

Chick-fil-A (Illustration - Google Maps)

“He was shaking,” co-manager Rudy Somoza told CNN, “almost in tears, saying he barely made it to the store on three tires because one was bad.”

Mr. Lee had managed to drive on three good tires and one blown all the way into the Chick-fil-A parking lot, where he parked safely. The elderly veteran had remained composed during the drive; his distress, however, was palpable by the time he entered the eatery.

Mr. Lee couldn’t change the blown tire on his own.

“As soon as he finished his sentence, Daryl informed me he needed to help this gentleman right now,” Somoza explained. Howard, seeing that Mr. Lee needed both reassurance and practical help, sprang into action immediately.

According to WTKR, Howard and Somoza have worked together for around five years. Howard didn’t know it at the time, but Somoza, touched by Howard’s quick, sympathetic response, caught his act of kindness on camera and later uploaded the photos online.

Howard’s heartwarming good deed went viral; it was picked up by CBS, shared on Facebook, and has been viewed over 4.1 million times to date.

“Nice to know there still are some kind people in this world,” wrote one viewer. “And it melts my heart that Chick-fil-A manager helped that elderly veteran. God bless that manager!”

“Thank you, sir, for helping this gentleman,” added another. “This world is lacking compassion and [it feels] good to pay it forward to help others in need.”

“Once again Chick-fil-A and their employees go above and beyond,” another viewer contributed, echoing the thoughts of thousands more who spoke highly of the fast food chain. “That manager is definitely a great man,” they continued. “Thank you, sir, for understanding what it means to love your neighbor as yourself.”

“[Howard’s] action of kindness was beautiful,” Somoza later reflected, speaking to CNN. “Daryl has always been so helpful to anyone in need and deserves this recognition.”

It may only have taken around 15 minutes for Howard to change Mr. Lee’s tire in the Chick-fil-A parking lot that day in the summer of 2019. Those 15 minutes, however, helped an elderly veteran to get home safely and know that he is respected and cared for by his community.

“We are grateful for team members like Daryl Howard who genuinely care about the customers and communities they serve, and for restaurant operators who create an environment where Team Members are empowered to go above-and-beyond to meet guests’ needs,” a Severn Chick-fil-A representative told Today via email.

Howard has worked at the fast food eatery since 2007. As for Mr. Lee, he has been a customer for over 15 years.

The 96-year-old veteran returned to the restaurant the day after his dramatic drive-through to thank Howard in person. An act of kindness, however inconsequential to the donor, can go a long, long way toward making the world a better place.