Saline Memorial ceremony will highlight heart disease awareness and remembrance

BENTON, Ark. (Jan. 15, 2026) – In recognition of American Heart Month, Saline Memorial Hospital is inviting the community to honor loved ones lost to heart disease by participating in a heart-shaped flag display designed to raise awareness of the nation’s leading cause of death for both men and women.

As part of the observance, Saline Memorial will plant red flags arranged in the shape of a heart. Each flag will represent a life lost to heart disease, and community members may submit the names of loved ones to be included in the display.

 “Heart disease touches almost every family, and every statistic represents someone who was deeply cherished,” said Char Boulch, CEO of Saline Memorial Hospital. “This ceremony allows our community to honor those we’ve lost while underscoring the importance of prevention, education and early detection in saving lives.”

Names may be submitted at SalineMemorial.org/HeartMonthFlags through Sunday, Feb. 1.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, affecting families across every age group and background. The flag ceremony serves as both a memorial and a reminder of the importance of heart-healthy lifestyles.

A video of the completed heart flag ceremony will be shared on Saline Memorial Hospital’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/SalineMemorialHospital, on Saturday, Feb. 14.

“From a clinical perspective, many heart-related deaths are preventable with regular screenings, risk management and timely treatment,” said Jeannie Otts, cath lab director at Saline Memorial Hospital. “We see firsthand how early intervention can change outcomes, and this display helps start important conversations about taking heart health seriously.”

About Saline Memorial Hospital

Saline Health System, a part of LifePoint Health, is made up of Saline Memorial Hospital, a 177-bed acute care facility, and Saline Clinics, a network of primary care and specialty clinics. The hospital is accredited through The Joint Commission for meeting quality and safety standards, the American College of Cardiology as a Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI, the MBSAQIP as a bariatric surgery center, Optum in the Bariatric Centers of Excellence network, CARF as a rehabilitation center and the AASM as a sleep center. Saline Memorial Hospital is also proud to be recognized as a Leapfrog Grade “A” Hospital for its commitment to patient safety and quality care. For more information about Saline Memorial Hospital, please call 501.776.6000 or visit SalineMemorial.org. For more information about LifePoint Health, visit LifePointHealth.net.