We may call it the 4th of July Parade, but the woman on whose shoulders the responsibility has rested these last two years has never lost sight of the real heroes, and the real name, of the parade — that is, the Military, Civic, and Firemen’s Parade.

“I just got off the phone with a World War II veteran who was confirming his participation,” said Parade Chairman Camille Teixeira. “These folks are the reason we do this, and bringing them joy…it’s very touching, and I’m honored to be part of it.”

Even before she joined the 4th of July Committee a decade ago, Teixeira carried some serious Bristol 4th credentials — she and her mother were both Miss Fourth competitors in their days; her father, Councilman and former Town Administrator Tony Teixeira, served as Chief Marshal in 2012.

She’s excited about the parade’s four divisions: the Chief Marshal’s Division, led by Chief Marshal Steve Contente — that will be the biggest — followed by the Military, Veterans, and Independent divisions. Though the choice of Chief Marshal is solely that of the General Chairman, it is the Vice Chairman who gets to select the head of each division. This year, Teixeira selected the late Brigadier General Michael Byrnes, who will be represented by his family, to lead the Military Division; Capt. Garry Holmstrom, USN (ret.) to represent the Veterans division; and Don Squires to head the Independent division.

She doesn’t want to give away too many surprises, and others (like the aircraft participating in the flyover) remain unknown, even to her. But she will say that there are 17 floats and 13 bands — including some musical surprises (and a particularly nostalgic one hailing from Philadelphia).

Beyond that, she has some advice for how to best appreciate Bristol’s big day: “Look for all the folks who served, and show them some love!”