For her five-year Trip of a Lifetime, Team Lead for Enterprise Applications Ann Scanlan traveled to France with her husband, Chris, to reconnect with his roots. Ann’s sister and brothers-in-law joined them on the adventure.
The couple knew exactly where the trip would begin and end. The only detail left to plan was the journey. They mapped a nine-day road trip from Chantilly to Carantec, adding many stops throughout northwestern France.
Beginning in Chantilly, a small commune in the Valley of Nonette surrounded by the Chantilly Forest, the group attended a cousin’s wedding. After spending time with family members and celebrating the occasion, Ann and her traveling companions hit the road.
Over the next week, they toured historical sites in numerous cities in the Normandy and Brittany regions.
In Lisieux, a small commune and Catholic pilgrimage site, they visited the shrine of St. Thérèse as the city celebrated a Jubilee year to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the saint’s birth.
They explored the Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel, a “gravity-defying” piece of architecture perched on a tidal island.
“The Abbaye is one of France’s most stunning sights,” Ann said.
Their hotel in the walled port city of Saint Malo, once a stronghold for privateers, offered Ann and her husband a stunning view of a national fort and the English Channel.
But one of the most memorable experiences for Ann occurred early in the trip. On May 29, Memorial Day, the group visited Omaha Beach. Dotted with the remains of German bunkers, the beach was the landing site for the Allied Forces from the D-Day Invasion of WWII.
From there, they visited the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, which honors the American troops who died overseas. Located on the former battlefield cemetery of Saint Laurent, the site occupies more than 170 acres of land and contains 9,388 graves.
“It was a very moving experience,” she recalled.
At the final road trip destination, the couple was hosted by family in Carantec. Ann, Chris and their siblings spent a few days exploring the rugged coastline and visiting the small villages where Chris’ mother grew up.
And, of course, they couldn’t leave before watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle against the Parisian night sky.
Ann doesn’t have a destination planned for her next Arthrex anniversary, but she has plenty of time to plan – and plenty of time for her kids, who did not go on this trip, to grow up a bit more and join future adventures.
“I would like to thank Arthrex for this benefit that is provided to employees,” she said. “It is truly an award that is not taken for granted, and it makes me proud to work for an employer that invests in its employees.”
For every five years of employment with Arthrex, employees are eligible for a company-paid Trip of a Lifetime to recognize their dedication. Look for more Trip of a Lifetime highlights on the Arthrex Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn pages.