Final answer:
The 9/11 tragedy held unique significance for Oklahomans due to the prior experience of the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995, which was the most deadly act of terrorism in the US until 9/11, engendering a profound empathetic and united response from Oklahomans following the later tragedy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 9/11 tragedy had unique relevance for Oklahomans because they had suffered a similar type of trauma just a few years earlier with the Oklahoma City Bombing on April 19, 1995. This attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was the deadliest act of terrorism on American soil at that time, claiming 168 lives, including many children. The outpouring of support from the nation after this domestic terror incident mirrored the response after the 9/11 attacks, with donations and volunteerism skyrocketing in the aftermath. The shared experience of such large-scale terrorism before 9/11 made Oklahomans uniquely empathetic to the events in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania.
Moreover, the Oklahoma City Bombing was viewed as a national tragedy that brought Americans together, highlighting their common values in the wake of disaster. The bipartisan response from the government and the surge in counterterrorism funding following the bombing likely influenced the national response to the September 11 attacks, thereby making Oklahomans feel a profound connection to the victims and survivors of the later attacks.