The Four Flags Area Apple Festival is asking the community to submit photos of military servicemen and women, both past and present, that will be displayed on the 2015 Apple Festival float.

Next year’s theme for the festival is “Apple Festival Salutes.”

Gene Millin, an Apple Festival board member in charge of making the float, said he has grand plans for the float, which is designed to honor our military.

Including the personal touch of pictures of servicemen and women will be a big part of it.

“I am very excited about this year’s theme and the float,” he said. “We want to build something that will hopefully do them justice.

“I have friends and family in the military and we have Apple Festival people that have gone into the military. We wouldn’t have what we have if they don’t do what they do. It hits me in the heart.”

The plan, Millin said, is to display around 250 pictures on the folding sides of the float.

People can submit photos by dropping them off at Millin Automotive, 705 N. 2nd St., Niles, or emailing them to info@fourflagsapplefestival.org.

Work on the 38-foot long and 8-foot wide float began Tuesday evening. The float’s first appearance will be at the Dowagiac Christmas Parade in December. Millin said he would like to have the pictures in by Dec. 5, but will accept them later.

“I don’t think I will turn any away,” he said.

The new float is expected to include an 8-foot by 16-foot aircraft carrier and a fighter jet that moves up and down. Behind it will be a jeep carrying the Apple Festival Prince and Princess. Two helicopters with spinning blades will hang off the sides of the float and a submarine will be featured on the back, where the Apple Festival Queens will ride.

“It’s not set in stone, but that is the plan,” Millin said.

For more information about the Four Flags Area Apple Festival, visit the website fourflagsapplefestival.org.