Hundreds of Stamford residents lined the sidewalks in downtown for the Stamford Veterans Day Parade on Sunday.

Retired Lt. Col. Genie Camacho served as the grand marshall this year, becoming the first Black woman to serve in the role.

Camacho has over 28 years of service in the United States Air Force Reserve as a flight nurse, a fight instructor and flight examiner.

"It feels good, it's a long time coming. All we can do is prepare ourselves for the journey," Camacho said.

She said the recognition gave her a space to encourage other women in service, active and retired.

"Females in the military and being a person of color it's difficult but I'm not letting anybody stop me, I kept going no matter what," Camacho said.

The City of Stamford holds a parade and ceremony for Veterans Day every year. They also have continued work on the project to bring Veterans Park and its history to life.

"We should all recognize what they did for us and they gave us for us to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," said Director of Stamford Veterans Park Partnership, Patricia Parry.