According to Claxton’s Mayor Perry Lee DeLoach, the Soldiers of the 24th Infantry division have “Helped the town in many ways, providing engineers, bands and color guards, and other assistance to the town of Claxton, and we wanted to show our appreciation with a gift from the heart.”

Mayor Deloach set up a committee to raise funds for the project which brought in more than $3,300 to provide the troops in Saudi Arabia with the sweet delicacy.

Local businesses, church groups, and civic organizations as well as individuals gave of their time and money to make the project a success. Even visitors from out of state were moved by the appeal and made donations.

Both the Claxton and Georgia Fruit Cake Companies committed to provide the cake to the committee at the cost of $1 per pound, considerably less than their respective retail rates, Claxton Fruitcake providing 2,800 pounds and Georgia Fruit Cake 500 pounds.

Master Baker Ira S. Womble, founder of the Georgia Fruit Cake Company, began his baking career in 1917, and left the company in the care of his son, Ira Womble Jr.

Mr. Womble is extremely proud of his cake, which won the Monde Selection Gold Medal for Excellence ant the 15th Annual Canned Food Products World Selection in 1976.

The Georgia Fruit Cake Company has been contracted to supply government outlets with fruitcake for more than 40 years.

Letters of appreciation have been received by Mayor Deloach from soldiers of the 24th, in gratitude for a project that took so many to see through to fruition.

It is thanks to people like those in Claxton that the members of the 24th Infantry Division remember Thanksgiving 1990 as a “fruitful” holiday.