One of the stories about the origin of the island's name says that during the construction of the Peter and Paul Fortress, the end called the Strelka had to be protected from the Swedes who were encroaching on it. Then, near the entrance to the Neva, an artillery battery was set up, and Lieutenant Vasily Korchmin was put in charge of it.

Historians say that when sending his orders to the lieutenant, Peter the Great laconically wrote on them "To Vasily, to the island." This is how, supposedly, the island got the name "Vasilievsky." The image of this bombardier lieutenant Vasily was taken as the basis for the creation of the monument. The authors decided that this Vasily, who ensured the security of the island, was closest to them in spirit. The bombardier is depicted at a moment of rest, sitting in a relaxed pose on the barrel of a cannon, as if on a bench. The authors of the monument called their Vasily "the spirit and patron" of the island. The grand opening took place on May 24, 2003.