This weekend, the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival will crown its 99th queen in Winchester, Virginia.
In 1933 that honor went to a remarkable 23-year old Girl Scout leader from Belgium, Miss Françoise May.
Françoise was the eldest daughter of Paul May, the Belgian ambassador to the United States. She had been an active Girl Guide in Belgium, and when her father was posted to the United States in 1931, she immediately signed up with the Washington, DC, area Girl Scouts. She became captain (leader) of Troop 53, and the troop grew so large that it divided into Troops 53 and 53A.
A Belgian Girl Guide Leads a Girl Scout Troop
Françoise became a popular local speaker about the international Girl Guides and a staff member for Washington DC’s Camp May Flather. She was awarded the Thanks Badge–the highest honor for an adult Girl Scout–for her efforts.
Her Girl Scout career was documented by Virginia Hammerley in scrapbooks donated to the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital. The two maintained a close correspondence for many years.
Her younger sisters, Ghislane and Elisabeth, soon joined Troop 53 as well.
Popular Counselor in Shenandoah Camp
Even more girls had the opportunity to meet Françoise thanks to her time working as a counselor at Camp May Flather.
Apple Blossom Time
Festival organizers asked Virginia Senator Harry F. Byrd to select the 1933 queen, and he chose Miss May. She gladly accepted the honor, saying “I’m just thrilled to death!”
Troop member Virginia Hammerley’s detailed troop scrapbooks include many clippings and items from the coronation of Queen Françoise.
The entire troop traveled to Winchester by bus for the coronation ceremony.
They carefully lined up in formation to enter the ceremonial grounds.
The coronation took place at Handley High School, with Secretary of War George Dern escorting Françoise through an arch of crossed swords made by cadets from Staunton Military Academy.
The queen wore a gown in shades of dark pink and featuring a train five-yards long. Her attendants wore green silk gowns with matching hats and veils, while court princesses wore similarly cut gowns with white eyelet over eggshell silk.
A Sudden, Sad Return Home
Ambassador May died suddenly in July 1934. When Françoise, her sisters, and their mother returned to Belgium, “Ginger” Hammerley succeeded her as troop captain.
Her touching farewell letter to the troop may be downloaded in its entirety by clicking here.
© 2026 Ann Robertson, writer, editor, Girl Scout historian, but NOT a Girl Scout employee.
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