President Donald Trump is recognizing Mormon pioneers who journeyed across the west to build a new home in Utah.

Trump said in a statement issued Tuesday by the White House that the families who fled persecution in Illinois “worked tirelessly to transform the arid desert landscape into a blossoming new home.”

The president says the settlers’ legacy lives on through hundreds of cities and towns in the American West and their accomplishments are a reminder of the importance of religious freedom and the strength of Americans.

Trump says he and the first lady send their best wishes to those celebrating Pioneer Day.