 orn in Czechoslovakia, Elizabeth Beranek moved to Lafayette in 1907 with her husband. The Beraneks had 16 children: ten daughters and six sons. Her husband and all of her sons were coal miners. Elizabeth Beranek earned notoriety for her persistent support of the labor union during the 1910-1914 Long Strike. She rallied large groups of men, women, and children who gathered to picket and to sing labor songs. For weeks, she led the picket line, holding aloft a large American flag. The Denver press referred to the 5'2" woman as "The Amazon" for her indomitable stance. Elizabeth's courage and perseverance in times of hardship did not end with the mining strikes. All of her six sons served in World War II. She was a member of the Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and of War Mothers. Elizabeth Beranek died in 1956; she is buried in her family plot in the Lafayette cemetery. |
