The highlight of the launch ceremony of VVA was soul stirring speech delivered by receipt of Param Vir Chakra (PVC), Subedar Yogendra Singh Yadav. His narration of the ascent to Tiger Hill during Kargil war sent chills down the spine of listeners and filled nationalistic fervour in the audience.
A loud applause replaced the pin drop silence in the hall when the brave heart finished his speech as a standing ovation was accorded to him by the audience consisting of Vice Chancellors, Principals and officers from Army and state administration. The governor of Uttarakhand was so impressed by his speech that he ordered that the recorded copies of the speech should be played at all ceremonies of VVA in the state.
Yadav was part of the commando platoon Ghatak that was assigned the task to capture three strategic bunkers on Tiger hill on July 04, 1999. Yadav volunteered to lead the assault where the enemy had vantage position on a vertical snow covered cliff face. A fire burst from the enemy killed platoon commander and two other soldiers but Yadav crawled and reached the summit. In spite of being severely injured from three gunshots he lobbed a grenade killing four Pakistani soldiers. He then charged to send bunker and killed four Pakistani soldiers in hand to hand combat. Yadav’s exceptional bravery helped Indian Army to capture strategically important Tiger Hill which is considered as turning point of Kargil war in which India emerged victorious.