Opinion

Occupy a place of honor

There will be a big demonstration on Fifth Avenue tomorrow — but don’t look for the self-obsessed slackers of Occupy Wall Street to be on hand.

That’s a pity, for there is much they could learn from the thousands of men and women who will be marching up the avenue when the annual New York City Veterans Day parade kicks off at 11:11 a.m.

They could learn about duty, honor, personal responsibility and self-reliance — traits that come naturally to folks inclined to answer when their country calls, but which have been in obvious short supply at Zuccotti Park from the beginning.

The parade will proceed north from 26th Street to 56th Street, and will be preceded by a wreath-laying ceremony at Madison Square Park.

For Friday is Nov. 11, Veterans Day, when America honors those who — at an age comparable to most of those in Lower Manhattan’s new tent city — answered the summons to duty.

They did so, by and large, with little thought for their own concerns. America summoned them — and they served.

Many, sadly, made the ultimate sacrifice. Others carry the scars of battle to this day.

But most came home blessedly whole, healthy and happy — determined to make productive lives for themselves and their families.

In this endeavor, most succeeded — aided in no small way by the discipline and self-confidence they acquired in the service of their country.

America today boasts more than 22 million veterans — a number that utterly dwarfs the rag-tag bands of increasingly violent and always obnoxious “occupiers” that now dot the land.

It wouldn’t hurt any of the New York contingent to put aside their drums — to say nothing of their pretentions — for the couple of hours it would take to hike over to Fifth Avenue and watch the colors stream by.

Again, they might learn something.

Everybody else, of course, already gets it.

But wouldn’t it be nice if all those who are within walking distance of the parade made the time to stop by to honor heroes?