Shane Vereen remembers hearing about the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School. He wears a green and white wristband inscribed with Angels of Sandy Hook on his right wrist, a daily reminder of a cold Friday morning in December 2012 when Sandy Hook suddenly became known around the world.

“Our coach told us after practice,” the New England Patriots running back said Thursday afternoon. “He called the whole team together and he explained the situation, what was going on.”

Like millions of others, Vereen had a very difficult time hearing and understanding what had happened.

“We couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I was appalled, in shock. I couldn’t understand why anyone would do something like that.”

Kids, he says, are his favorite kind of fan.

“They’re just pure joy,” he said.

Within days of the shootings, rubber wristbands designed by Sandy Hook resident Kris Schwartz began appearing in Newtown. The bracelets were green with white lettering that says Angels of Sandy Hook on one side of the bracelet, with the words Hope Faith Love on the reverse. An angel icon and a heart separate each series of words. The bracelets were also made in the reverse pattern (white background, green lettering).

Residents of all ages immediately began wearing them, showing their support of the 20 children and six women who were killed inside the elementary school as well as in an effort to become a kinder, more loving population.

As days and then weeks passed, the bracelets began showing up across the state, and then the country.

(Mr Schwartz said this week that over $100,000 has been raised for various Newtown charities through the sale of the bracelets, which are $5 each.)

Shane Vereen was among those who was given one shortly after 12/14. Following a practice one afternoon, he said, he and his teammates were all given Angels of Sandy Hook bracelets.

“Someone had gotten them for the us,” he said. “I put mine on and it hasn’t come off since then.”

Astute local viewers of last weekend’s Super Bowl may have noticed a familiar flash of green when NBC zoomed in on the New England Patriots running back at the end of the game. There it was: the brand-new Super Bowl Champion was wearing a green and white Angels of Sandy Hook bracelet on his right wrist.

The bracelet was viewed again when Vereen reached out to touch The Vince Lombardi Trophy when it was walked to a dais by former Super Bowl champion Kurt Warner following the game.

A pink bracelet with the lettering Lori Strong is also always on Vereen’s wrist these days. That bracelet honors an aunt, he said Thursday afternoon, who died earlier this year.

“Those two never come off,” he said. “You gotta have your angels on game day.”

The Bee’s website and Facebook page lit up for a few days this week, once a pair of photos with Mr Vereen and his bracelet were posted. As of Thursday morning, there were 262 Facebook Likes for the pair of photos and 80 shares that could be accounted for. There is no telling how many others looked at the photos, nor how many people chose to copy and paste the story link directly to their Facebook page rather than using the Share button.

The story and photos on The Bee’s website had drawn more than 11,000 views by February 6.

His Sandy Hook bracelet is holding up surprisingly well, said Vereen. “It looks like it’s in good shape,” he said.

While he was unable to attend a special clinic at Newtown High School presented by the New England Patriots in 2013 due to a previous commitment, Vereen keeps Newtown and its residents in mind often.

“Your strength inspires us,” he said. “Your encouragement has helped our team win this championship.”