US Navy Vice Admiral (apprentice) Flag. Bronze staff, gold halyard. All original

Description

Vice Admirals (Apprentice) Desk Flag
Bronze base and Pole
About 16 inches tall
Blue cloth with 3 stars within apprentice knot measures 5.5x8.5 inches
Excellent blue color remain, white apprentice knot shows some usage
Base is about 1inch tall and measures 2.5 inches on sides
Gold Halyard shows no use, is tight and flag  may be half mast when appropriate
This particular flag came from the estate of an Vice Admiral, who also had a son who was an Admiral.
The son told me that this flag would sit on the Flag Lieutenant's desk and when the Admiral was in his office the flag would be flown full staff
and when the Admiral was not in his office the flag would be flown at half-mast.
There fore, instead of asking, "Is the Admiral in" all the inquiring officer had to do was look at the flag.
I'm certain, the flag lowered, didn't keep the inquiring officer from asking, "When will the Admiral return?"
This is a great piece of Naval History, and I've had it in my inventory since I was at the Naval Academy in 1987/88