Much history

My areologist friend and I accidentally activated a switch during our brushing dust session. The floor opened a hole, and we both fell in, expecting our deaths. It was dark, but we could still use a light stick, which meant we weren't dead. We started seeing sunlight behind a wall of grass. We found the statue of the martyred hero standing right before us. We brushed the plaque with something written in the new world's native language. I shot up a flare to alarm someone to help us out. Meanwhile, my friend translated the plaque.