Movie star Angelina Jolie crossed paths with a lucky Colorado Marine this week during her trip to Iraq and Syria.

While raising awareness of people displaced by the war, Jolie made a special visit to the Marines, including Lance Cpl. Samuel Petersen, 22, who grew up in Denver.

Marines had an opportunity to have their photos taken with Jolie, Petersen's mom, Sue Petersen, of Centennial, said Wednesday.

In a photo published in OK! Magazine, Petersen is shown hugging the actress.

According to OK!, Jolie visited troops near the al-Waleed refugee camp in Iraq. She also met international troops.

"I was surprised, but I know she's known for doing that," Sue Peterson said of Jolie's visit.She told the magazine that her son and others are training Iraqi police how to patrol the border.

Samuel Petersen was born in Nebraska. His family moved to Colorado when he was 2, his mom said. "I consider him a Colorado native," she added.

He graduated from Cherry Creek High School in 2003.

This was Jolie's first trip to Iraq and Syria, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

While there, she inspected a refugee site that serves as a school for thousands of Iraqi children.

"I have come to Syria and Iraq to help draw attention to the humanitarian crisis and to urge governments to increase their support for UNHCR and its partners," Jolie said, according to OK! "My sole purpose in both countries is to highlight the plight of those uprooted by the war in Iraq."

The U.N. refugee agency also said "she spent a lot of time with sick children and elderly refugees."