*** Editor's note: This article was updated to include the date of the Old Fashioned Christmas at the Stables

The Old Fashioned Christmas at the Stables is a Mexico tradition filled with holiday cheer. From sleigh rides to live holiday music and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, the event has served all ages.

This year, before the stable doors open to the public, Simmons’ Stables will host its first Harold Enslen Veterans Memorial Sleigh Ride. The board and fellow members are inviting all veterans to join veterans from the Missouri Veterans Home at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 7 to ride the sleigh and visit the stables.

This project will honor Enslen’s legacy. According to co-president Mary White Littrell, he had been trying to coordinate this project with the Missouri Veterans Home in Mexico for several years.

“Unfortunately, he passed away this summer, so he was the instigator of this and, of course, we want to do it to honor Harold,” she said.

Littrell said that when she reached out to David White of Clifton Hills, who will be providing the horses, to see if he could come early for the veterans, he didn’t hesitate because  he is also a veteran.

Enslen was very involved in the community and was a dedicated stable member. He served as mayor of Mexico, served on the City Council and was the recipient of the Stribling Community Service Award.

“He was just always in a lot of organizations and did a lot for the City of Mexico,” Littrell said. 

Becky Smith, senior therapeutic service worker at the Missouri Veterans Home, knew Enslen during his time as a resident at the veterans home and how much he wanted his fellow veterans to go. Due to weather, they weren’t able to make it out to the stables last year, but as long as the weather holds out, she will continue working on getting residents to the stables.