Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., will attend the annual Tribute to American Veterans and Active Duty Servicemen at the Buffalo Chip Campground tonight in advance of the Kelly Pickler/Kid Rock concert.

McCain is expected to take the stage at 7:30 p.m. at the popular biker campground.

"We are honored that a patriot of Sen. McCain's stature would take time during his presidential campaign to help us honor veterans and active duty military personnel," Buffalo Chip owner Rod Woodruff said in a news release.

A former prisoner of war in Vietnam whose military honors include the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross, McCain is an ideal guest for the event, according to Woodruff.

"Senator McCain's life has been a stalwart and courageous fight for the very freedoms that hundreds of thousands of bikers come to Sturgis each year to celebrate. He is an awe-inspiring patriot, and we are privileged to have him join the Buffalo Chip's annual tribute," Woodruff said in the prepared release. "We can think of no better example of the courage, sacrifice, integrity and sense of duty embodied by the people who protect our freedom daily."

Past Buffalo Chip tributes have included the Patriot Guard Riders, the U.S. Army Golden Knights, B-1B Lancer bomber fly-bys and numerous color guards and flag-folding ceremonies.