Soldiers from the 1st Calvary stationed at Baghdad were playing Guitar Hero 5 against players from the Philadelphia Eagles at the NovaCare complex in South Philadelphia.
"Just to watch them have a few minutes break from what they're all going through and just to see them all happy with the family they have over there," Barb Texter, a mother of a soldier, said.
An organization called Pro versus G.I. Joe set up this clash at the NovaCare complex.
Xbox Live's gaming system technology makes it possible for the soldiers to face off against their favorite athletes in games.
Today is special for PFC Lawson, not just because of this experience with the Eagles, but because he gets to talk to his wife and family via webcam.
"We don't' usually get a webcam, we usually just type e-mails," Marianne Lawson, wife of a soldier, said.
Local members of the Army National Guard came to watch the action and meet their favorite players.
The team has a big game this weekend, but this puts everything in perspective.
"It reminds us of all the things they do for us, protecting this country," Eagles safety Macho Harris said.
When you're thousands of miles away at war, every connection to the home front counts.
Get Action News on your website
