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While excavating for the foundation of the Memorial, that of the Lytle residence was penetrated. The foundation is composed of concrete, 7 feet deep, 7 feet 4 inches long, 3 feet wide and contains a lead box, 10 inches square weighing 55 pounds. The leaden case contains honor medals, a marine mess pan with knife, spoon and fork, 4 tear bottles, one of clay and three of glass, those of glass being veneered with gold, silver, cobalt and copper a lost art, and a lamp of knowledge, composed of clay. The lamp and bottles were removed from a tomb near Sidon, Syria in the presence of Dr. Frank H. Williams, Portsmouth, Ohio, while serving the Near East Relief 1918-19. The date on this tomb indicated that they had been resting within it for 4500 years. They were used for the purpose of gathering the tears of the sorrowing and placing them in the tombs of the departed. Several other mementos are contained within this box, all with the hope that they may again remain undisturbed for as many if not a greater number of years.
The granite monolith weighing approximately 25,000 pounds is 7 feet long, 5 feet 9 inches high and 2 feet 8 inches thick. It is known as the Red Balfour Granite from North Carolina and one of the hardest granites. Its surface and borders are rough and irregular, emblematic of the rugged, courageous character of the U.S. Marines.
Upon the pedestal is inscribed the word "SHU", of Chinese extraction, and adopted by Confucius, who displayed it upon his tent at all times. Its meaning is that of virtue, honor, love, devotion, affection, health, prosperity, happiness, courage, i.e., all that is good. Lytle Park occupies a square between Third and Fourth and Lawrence on the west and Lytle Street on the east, one and 38-100 acres in size. A part of it was included in Fort Washington Stockdale, built 1788, the second settlement in the State of Ohio. Located within this park was the residence of General Wm. H. Lytle, who was killed at Chicamauga 1863, who wrote the classic poem "I am dying Egypt, dying" and to whose name it was dedicated 1900. The poem was found upon his body but the last verse had not been completed, tho' his mess mate did so soon after.