Chick-fil-A manager changes flat tire for restaurant regular, 96, who's a WWII veteran

Hope Schreiber
·Writer

A Severn, Maryland Chick-fil-A manager wasted no time when it came to helping out a regular customer, going above and beyond just providing him excellent service in the restaurant.

On Thursday morning, manager Daryl Howard was busy taking orders when a customer employees refer to as Mr. Lee came into the restaurant. Lee has been visiting the restaurant for 15 years, and it isn’t unusual for a team member to join him while he enjoys his coffee a few times a week for a conversation. In fact, the team celebrates Mr. Lee’s birthday every year.

However, Lee was not himself that morning. A fellow manager, Rudy Somoza, told CNN that the 96-year-old WWII veteran was "shaking" and "almost in tears" when he arrived.

According to Somoza, Lee said he barely made it to the restaurant on the three tires, because one was so flat. While he was able to park, he was not able to change the tire himself, and he had no one to help.

"As soon as he finished his sentence, Daryl informed me he needed to help this gentleman right now," Somoza, who has worked alongside Howard for five years, told the outlet. "So, Daryl jumped into action without hesitation."

Howard worked on the flat tire, which he was able to change in about 15 minutes. Unbeknownst to him at the time, another Chick-fil-A employee, Sarah Wagner, took a photo of the kind gesture, according to CBS Baltimore.

“Thank you, Daryl, God bless your heart," Wagner said, according to the station.

A Chick-fil-A spokesperson told Yahoo Lifestyle that Howard has been working at the restaurant since 2007, and has always been known for his hospitality.

“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,” the statement reads.

Chick-fil-A, which was voted America's favorite fast-food restaurant for the fourth year in a row, is known for its excellent customer service, and now, perhaps a place where you could get a quick tire change.

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