1. In 1945, President Harry S. Truman announced the surrender of Japan, officially ending World War II. This announcement came on August 14th in Washington, D.C., and it marked a significant moment in both American and world history.

2. August 14th is also significant because it is the day in 1935 that the Social Security Act was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This landmark legislation created a system of retirement benefits for American workers, and it remains a crucial part of the social safety net today.

3. On August 14th, 1971, D.B. Cooper made history in Washington by hijacking a Northwest Orient Airlines plane and demanding a ransom of $200,000. After parachuting out of the plane with the money, Cooper was never seen again, and the case remains unsolved.

4. In 1899, the first automobile race in the United States took place in Washington, D.C. The race was sponsored by the Washington Times newspaper and covered a distance of 52 miles on a track that stretched from the city to Maryland.

5. August 14th is the birthday of Washington native and aviation pioneer Orville Wright. Wright and his brother Wilbur are famous for designing and building the world's first successful airplane, and their achievements helped pave the way for the modern aviation industry.