<P> On January 20, 2008, Kovic observed his 40th anniversary of having been shot and paralyzed in the Vietnam War . Kovic, in March 2005, said: "The scar will always be there, a living reminder of that war, but it has also become something beautiful now, something of faith and hope and love . I have been given the opportunity to move through that dark night of the soul to a new shore, to gain an understanding, a knowledge, and entirely different vision . I now believe I have suffered for a reason and in many ways I have found that reason in my commitment to peace and nonviolence . My life has been a blessing in disguise, even with the pain and great difficulty that my physical disability continues to bring . It is a blessing to speak on behalf of peace, to be able to reach such a great number of people ." </P> <P> On April 8, 2009, Kovic joined British MP George Galloway to launch Viva Palestina USA, an American branch of Viva Palestina . Kovic planned to co-lead with Mr. Galloway a humanitarian relief convoy to the Gaza Strip in early July 2009 . On December 6, 2009 Kovic spoke honoring Bruce Springsteen at the 32nd annual Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C. On December 22, 2009, Kovic, Oliver Stone, and friends celebrated the 20th anniversary of the 1989 film release of Born on the Fourth of July at a dinner party in Torrance, California . In April 2010, Kovic traveled to Rome, Italy, as a member of the Council for Dignity, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation . Between April 19--26, he attended meetings at Rome's City Hall with other international peace activists, diplomats and academics, to discuss the need for conflict resolution and other more peaceful, nonviolent alternatives to war as a way of solving the world's many conflicts . On April 21, 2010, he spoke of his journey from war to peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation before Rome's mayor Gianni Alemanno, and other civic leaders at Rome's Ara Pacis (Altar of Augustan Peace), commissioned by the Roman Senate July 4, 13 BC . </P> <P> On July 4, 2016 Akashic Books published the 40th anniversary edition of Born on the Fourth of July, with a foreword by Bruce Springsteen, in conjunction with Kovic's latest book, Hurricane Street . Naming it a Top 10 Pick for Spring 2016, Publishers Weekly reported, "The author of the bestseller Born on the Fourth of July writes an impassioned and timely memoir about the 1974 American Veterans Movement that will strike a chord with veterans and their families today ." </P> <P> Kovic lives in Redondo Beach, California, where he writes, paints, plays the piano, and gardens . He has never married although he did have a relationship with Connie Panzarino (author of The Me in the Mirror). . </P>

Born on the fourth of july ron kovic summary