Elena is the widow of Marine Lance Corporal Robert Paul Zurheide, Jr., left, who fell on April 12th, 2004 from hostile fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. He fell on his second tour and was part of the initial invasion force. He returned to the States after his first tour on July 14th, 2003 and returned to the theatre on February 29th, 2004. In addition to his wife, he left behind his son, Robert Paul Zurheide, III, pictured below left.

• U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Robert Zurheide Jr. never saw his namesake, Robert Paul Zurheide III, now 16 months old and toddling at his mother's side as she spoke at the rally. Zurheide was killed a few days before the boy was born in April 2004.
  
  But Zurheide's mother, Evelyn, told the flag-waving crowd, "I know my son is looking down on us and smiling and is very proud of all of us." ... "The troops need to know that our country is not going to let them down while they are doing their job and keeping us free," Elena Zurheide said. Tucson (Ariz.) Citizen, 9/5/05