Beck: "We Are The People Clinging To God And Guns"

BRISTOL, Va. – Thirteen-year-old Hunter Herndon was among the first dozen to get Glenn Beck’s autograph Friday at the conservative talk-show host’s signing event at Books-A-Million.

But Hunter’s single-digit ticket came only because of the kindness of strangers. His father, Bob Herndon, was scheduled to work when the free tickets became available at 9 a.m. Friday. But when dad unsuccessfully begged book store staff Thursday night for an advance ticket - a man who overheard him offered to help. And did.

“[My son’s] mother passed away eight months ago,” Herndon said. “This book helped him. I wanted him to meet the man who wrote it.”

So at 5 a.m. Friday morning, the man who overheard Herndon’s plea arrived with his wife in the book store’s snow-covered parking lot. They were the first in line.

Glenn Beck, who has both a syndicated radio and cable television show, came to Bristol, Va., to sign copies of his newest book, “The Christmas Sweater,” for which 500 tickets were available on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 9 a.m. Friday.

By 7 a.m., dozens of people had gathered on the sidewalk outside, shivering in the cold weather, determined to get a ticket.

“My feet were so cold, it took an hour for them to thaw out,” said Ramona Stacey, of Bristol, Tenn., who claimed her place in line at 7 a.m. “All of us here waiting in the early morning took a poll, and there was not one [Barack] Obama fan in the crowd,” she joked.

Books-A-Million was packed nearly an hour before Beck was slated to arrive at 8 p.m., each fan standing in line according to the number on their ticket. Single file, 500 people snaked switchbacks around the book shelves, waiting with fevered anticipation to meet the man several called their hero.

Every one in line held a copy of “The Christmas Sweater,” Beck’s third book.

Released Nov. 11, the book is based, according to the publisher’s announcements, on a true story about “boyhood memories, wrenching life lessons, and the true meaning of the gifts we give to one another.”

“It sorta helped me to understand what my mother means now that she’s gone,” Hunter Herndon said while waiting in line with his father. “She’s gone. And the book helped me to learn how to bring back the happy times that we had, instead of just the bad stuff from when she was sick.”

Beck, whose daily radio show airs locally on WFHG 92.7 every day at 9 a.m., hosts a television show that until recently was broadcast on CNN. Starting Jan. 19, he said, he’ll have a new show on FOX.

“He’s moving to FOX and I’m so glad,” Stacey said, to nods of agreement from bystanders.

At Beck’s arrival, an exuberant applause broke out in the bookstore.

“Praise Jesus,” someone yelled several times. “We’re not worthy,” declared another. An eruption of camera flashes accompanied the frenzy, capturing Beck’s dramatic entrance.

He strode toward a platform before the crowd, stepped onto it and raised his arms to the sky.

“We are the people clinging to God and guns,” he boomed.

Beck spoke briefly to his fans, his voice breaking at times, before he sat down to sign his name 500 times. He told them about his faith and his life and the fans he has met during his signing tour.

“This is a real bond between me and my listeners,” Beck said. “I wouldn’t stand in line for anybody. For them to stand in line for me, it’s amazing.”

ahunter@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2531