Toward the end of WWII in 1945, an American pilot, Lt. Gerald McDonell. of the US 355th Fighter Group, was shot down, crashed, and perished in the ancient town of Buren in central Holland. The Dutch townspeople considered his death a symbol of their freedom.

After the defeat of Nazi Germany, a Dutch horticulturalist, Mr. Van den Berg, cultivated a special tulip in memory of Gerry. In 1981 this tulip was recorded by the International Committee for the Registration of Tulip names as the "Gerry McDonell" tulip.

In May, 2000, during a 355th Reunion in Holland, Carol Lyons, artist and wife of William Lyons, former fiighter pilot with the 355th Group, saw the tulips and decided to paint a watercolor of them.

In June, 2001, the "Lt. Gerry McDonell Tulip Painting" was officially presented to the Town of Buren by two WWII Dutch Resistance fighters, Albert Postma and Fred Boogaart.  It was received at the ceremony by Buren's Burgomaster, Drs. K.C. Tammes and Secretary L.H. Soetekouw.  Remarks were made by the Burgomaster, by Dutch Priest Drs.G. Thuring, noted historical researcher of downed flyers in WWII, and by Albert Postma, longtime Netherlands contact for the 8th Air force and the 355th Fighter Group.

The Tulip painting is unusual in that, under the image, the flags of the Netherlands, United States and Great Britain are shown, signifying the unity of these three allies in WWII and their liberation of Holland from Nazi Germany.  The painted inscription reads:

                                "In memory...Lt. Gerry McDonell

                                 In Honor ...  The Dutch Resistance  1940-1945

                                 In Unity...    Our Three Nations--World War II"

A picture of the painting appears on the cover of the Spring 2002 MUSTANG