New London — Washington Parade Field at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy was bustling Sunday evening as cadets took part in the fourth of five spring regimental reviews.

The sunset review, Delta Company Officer Jesse Diaz said, has multiple purposes. Occurring this year on the day after Armed Forces Day, the drill is a way for the academy to celebrate the holiday. But it also allows the academy to formally honor the governor, the parents of class presidents and the president of the academy's Parents Association.

"It's one of the more highly visible external ceremonies that the academy does," Diaz said, explaining that cadets from the classes of 2015 and 2017 were involved.

And, Diaz said, it's a tradition — he took part in the review when he was a cadet in 2004.

Audience member and Maryland resident Greg Auth remembered doing the same, more than 30 years prior to that.

"I can remember it 42 years ago, and I was glad to see my folks in the audience watching me," Auth said. "So I'm just passing it on."

Part of a military family, he and his wife, Lisa, were there among hundreds of others to watch their daughter, Kendall, soon to be a graduate of the academy.

"Her brother's here, too, and he's a 2012 graduate (of the academy)," Lisa Auth said. "It's a very special, very emotional time."

In addition to being honored, Gov. Dannel Malloy also participated in the ceremony, walking the length of the field while performing a pass in review of the corps of cadets.

Malloy earlier this year declared the summer of 2015 to be "Connecticut's Coast Guard Summer," a season that will be packed with events celebrating the Coast Guard's 225th birthday, the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Coast Guard Academy and the National Coast Guard Museum planned for downtown New London.

For Class of 2015 cadet Deaven Yee, reviews such as this one are a way to show friends and relatives "what we do."

She explained that cadets spend two days a week learning the routines during spring drill season, gaining poise and pride along the way.

"To participate in any kind of drill, it pays respects and honor to our service and the Coast Guard itself, as well as everyone else who serves in the past, present, future," Yee said.

The review ended with an evening colors ceremony and folding of the garrison flag that the academy flies.

From here, the cadets have only a graduation review to complete. That's part of what makes the sunset review special, members of the audience said.

"It's the end of (Kendall's) four years here," Greg Auth said. "It's great to see her in one of the last formal events."

l.boyle@theday.com