On the evening of September 25, 2019, a memorial to Peter Tompkins, an American-born, European-educated spy, was unveiled on the main campus of The American University of Rome.
The ceremony was attended by Tompkins’ widow, acclaimed filmmaker Maria Luisa Forenza, and by Harry Shindler, the 98-year old veteran of the Italian campaign in the Second World War, and an active campaigner to recognize fallen servicemen and those who supported escaped prisoners and refugees.
The unveiling of the memorial, designed and sculpted by Italian sculptor Giuliano Giuliani, was preceded by a screening of the short film “Roma Citta’ Libera”, by La Repubblica journalist Marco Patucchi, on the liberation of Rome by Allied troops on June 4, 1944.
Peter Tompkins was a journalist, World War II Office of Strategic Services (OSS) spy, and best-selling author. As a Secret Agent for the OSS, Tompkins spent months working with the Italian resistance to pave the way for Rome's liberation, which was finally achieved when American troops entered the city on June 4th, 1944.