With a green U.S. Army jeep on the front, grey aircraft carrier in the middle and imposing tank on the back, the Four Flags Area Apple Festival’s “Salute Our Troops” float is a fitting tribute to members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The float, however, is not complete.

Gene Millin, one of many volunteers who helped build the float, is attempting to collect 1,000 pictures of area servicemen and women to place on the sides of the float.

He began collecting pictures in October and has around 200 so far — just enough to fill a small portion of one side of the float.

Millin said he’d like to have as many pictures as possible in time for the float’s appearance in the Blossomtime Parade May 2 in St. Joseph.

“We want to say thank you to our troops — that’s what drives us,” Millin said. “We are proud of our military family and personnel, past, present and future. They gave us the right to do what we do. Some gave their lives.”

The float has already made appearances at the Dowagiac Christmas Parade and Hunter Ice Festival.

Millin said the response has been tremendous.

“Both times we had lines of people going down the sides looking at those pictures,” he said. “We had a couple people come off of there crying. I had one turn to me and say, ‘thank you, it’s beautiful.’ I said, ‘don’t thank me, thank them.’

“That’s what it is all about.”

The Apple Festival will accept any and all pictures of people who are serving or have served in the military. Pictures can be emailed to info@fourflagsapplefestival.org or dropped off at Millin Automotive, 705 N. Second St., Niles, or Leader Publications, 217 N. 4th St., Niles.

The float was created by members of the Apple Festival and the Apple Festival Pageant Court.

In addition to being at the Blossomtime Festival, the float will appear at festivals throughout the spring and summer.