On April 13, 1998, by the decision of the Rylsk City Duma, the Memorial Park of Defenders of the Fatherland was created. Funds for its arrangement came from charitable concerts of the vocal group "Seven I Am Good," as well as from donations from organizations and residents of the city. A memorial sign was installed in the park, landscaping was carried out, and trees were planted. According to the decision of the Rylsk City Duma No. 64/4 dated July 23, 2003, the Memorial Sign "To Notable Rylsk Residents" was opened in the park, which was the result of research by local historians. The names of 26 defenders of the Fatherland are immortalized on a three-sided stele in the open chapel, including Vasily Shelekhov, the son of Columbus of Russia and a hero of the Patriotic War of 1812. Also mentioned are 19 notable residents of Rylsk, including G.I. Shelekhov, and five merchant families of city builders, with the Shelekhov family being the second most significant.