Chick-Fil-A Employees Make Disabled Child’s Night With Lightsaber Battle

It is safe to say that “The Force” is with the employees from the Chick-Fil-A in Columbus, Georgia.

The Chick-Fil-A in question holds events every month or so, theme nights for all their customers, owner Alex Vann told Inside Edition. This past Friday, it was “Galaxy Night,” a Star Wars-themed event replete with lightsabers and face paint meant for parents and children to enjoy an evening of fun and food.

Kari Merriken, mother to 8-year-old Caleb, brought her son to Chick-Fil-A for the event. Caleb has spinal muscular atrophy, a condition that affects motor nerve cells in the spine. Nonetheless, Caleb was taking part in the Galaxy Night activities when his mother noticed him approach a group of children.

“When my son asked some boys in the play area if he could join them, the response was, ‘No, we’re good,'” she wrote on her Facebook, according to Inside Edition.

After being rejected, Caleb asked his mother to play with him. Merriken, though saddened by what her child had experienced, took up a lightsaber and tried to salvage her son’s night. She just did not expect Darth Vader to show up.

After explaining what happened to Caleb as she made to receive her weapon, the Dark Lord of the Sith came out and challenged Caleb to a lightsaber battle.

“The next thing I know, out comes Darth Vader,” Merriken said. “They said something like, ‘We heard you can’t find any worthy opponents,’ and they started battling with him.”

Lord Vader (aka Derek Rains, an employee of Chick-Fil-A), had a battle with Caleb, to which the young boy came out on top.

Vann tells Inside Edition, “I’m super proud of our team for being aware there are folks that do have some needs. We can really bring a remarkable experience for somebody.”

It is no secret that kids can sometimes be mean. Most don’t even realize it. It is up to us as adults to show a better example, and that is exactly what the employees of this Chick-Fil-A took upon themselves to do.