Usually just a place to get a chicken sandwich or waffle fries, Chick-fil-A has also become a place to make a political statement in Harford County, on Wednesday.
Masses of local supporters came out of the Abingdon Chick-fil-A, near the Route 24/I-95 interchange, throughout the day, many in support of a Chick-Fil-A the National Appreciation Day, hosted by Fox News correspondent and former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.
Several people interviewed outside the restaurant Abingdon in the early evening said they are pleased the president of Chick-fil-A has taken a stand against gay marriage and were particularly upset that the mayors of several cities threatened to refuse the restaurant setting up outlets their cities.
Members of a number of churches in the region said that the controversy inspired to make their voices heard as Christians.
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Aberdeen and Marva Choates Fagnas Linda said the pastor of Zion Temple Church in Havre de Grace has given leaflets urging the faithful to attend the Appreciation Day.
"It is time for Christians to stand up and take a stand for what we believe," said Choates. "We need to let others know that the Bible is right."
She said she fully supports Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy.
"He is not ashamed to let others know where he is," said Choates.
Fagnas added: "They have Christian values and that we support."
Choates Fagnas and were delighted to see the cars on the boulevard extends friendship constant, where the restaurant is located, the dinner hour. The two women had to park on the street in the lot of Target, as did dozens of others.
Philip Einhorn, of Bel-Air, said the last straw was the attempt to stop Chick-fil-A from the opening of restaurants in some cities.
"I think it was that [Dan Cathy] can not have free speech, and trying to stop stores from being built is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard , "he said.
Einhorn and his niece, Alicia Richardson, were signs that read "We love God + Chick-Fil-A" and "We support Chick-Fil-A + Free Speech."
Einhorn said a number of colleagues at the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Joppa were also buying food.
One of them, Helen Ryan of Abingdon, said she came because "this is America" and freedom of expression should be supported.
Looking at the line, she said: "It seems that Christians came out silent."
Several customers have told The Aegis around lunchtime that the restaurant was busier than it ever was. At 18:30, the restaurant was still packed with people Abingdon waiting to be served.
A representative from Chick-fil-A said the owner did not want the Aegis to take pictures or interview customers inside the restaurant.
She also said that the owner refused to comment on how the day went, but gave a company statement that was released earlier.
The statement reads in part:
"Since the day Truett Cathy started the company, he began to apply Bible principles based on the management of his business ... The Chick-fil-A tradition of culture and service in our restaurants is to treat everyone with honor, dignity and respect - regardless of their religion, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender. .. Going forward, our intention is to leave the political debate over gay marriage in government and political arena. "
Across the street, Lonesome Clifford said he had stopped to eat, not because the appreciation of the event, but it does support the values of the restaurant.
"I agree with the owner to stick to what he believes, and I will support Chick-fil-A not matter what," Lonesome said.
Lonesome, which is in Riverside and served in the Navy, said he regularly frequents the restaurant and has never seen so many people that it was Wednesday night.
"It's great that everyone came out," he said, "You can not even enter this crazy. I've never seen this before. "
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